Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have exposed a major graft scheme involving inflated military drone and signal jammer procurements, just days after the country's parliament reinstated the independence of key anti-graft institutions following widespread public protests.
In a joint statement released on social media, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced that several individuals, including a sitting lawmaker, two local officials, and members of the national guard, were implicated in the scheme. The names of the accused have not been made public.
The investigation revealed that state contracts were deliberately signed with supplier companies at significantly inflated prices, with kickbacks amounting to as much as 30 percent of the contract value. Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who met with the heads of NABU and SAPO following the disclosure, emphasised a zero-tolerance stance towards corruption.
“There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.
The revelations come just two days after Ukraine’s parliament voted to restore the full independence of NABU and SAPO, reversing an earlier decision that had attempted to place them under the authority of the prosecutor-general — a move that triggered the largest nationwide protests since the Russian invasion began in 2022.
Zelenskiy, who wields sweeping wartime powers and retains high public support, acknowledged the backlash and submitted the reversal bill himself, stating that he had heard the will of the people. The bill passed with broad support in the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday.
The reinstatement of independence for the anti-corruption bodies has been welcomed by Kyiv’s Western allies. European Union officials had warned that undermining these institutions could jeopardise Ukraine’s path to EU membership.
“It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption,” Zelenskiy said following the briefing from agency heads.
