Ukraine on Wednesday launched a wave of anti-corruption searches targeting administrations, officials and personalities, the authorities ensuring that the fight against embezzlement is a priority in the context of the war effort and Western aid.
David Arakhamia, leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party, announced on Telegram that billionaire Igor Kolomoiski, ex-interior minister Arsen Avakov and the Ukrainian tax authorities had been targeted, while the customs directorate was sacked . Senior officials from the Ministry of Defense also received visits from investigators.
“The country will change with the war and if someone is not ready for change, the state will come and change him,” insisted Mr. Arakhamia, alluding to the endemic evil of corruption.
The raids come a week after a series of senior officials were sacked in the wake of a bribery scandal over army supplies, the first major scandal since the Russian invasion nearly a year ago. .
In addition, kyiv is hosting a summit with the EU on Friday, which has made the fight against corruption a condition for Ukraine’s accession to the European bloc.
The Ukrainian authorities, whose war effort largely depends on military and financial support from Europe and the United States, are also challenged to curb the financial shenanigans so as not to disgust the allies.
Investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released footage of the search at Mr. Kolomoisky’s home on Tuesday, in connection with a 40 billion hryvnia (about 1.45 billion Canadian dollars at current rate) embezzlement case. involving oil companies.
This billionaire with a sulphurous reputation and sanctioned by the United States was close to Volodymyr Zelensky, before the latter distanced himself.
The State Investigation Bureau meanwhile carried out searches in the tax services, accusing “the head of the Kyiv tax office of conspiracy for the purpose of enrichment to the tune of several million dollars”.
very evil eye
Finally, investigators gave senior Ministry of Defense officials notices officially making them suspects.
Last week, on Mr. Zelensky’s orders, senior presidential and ministry officials, governors and prosecutors were forced out after becoming embroiled in shady deals.
A few days earlier, a scandal had erupted, after revelations about a contract at allegedly overvalued prices for food products intended for soldiers in several regions.
If this does not seem to be the case in this case, Westerners would see with a very dim view that the billions in aid paid over the past year to repel the Russian invader could be diverted.
kyiv is also engaged in a race against time to obtain more powerful armaments.
Ukraine in particular wants high-precision missiles with a range of more than 100 kilometers to destroy Russian supply lines and ammunition depots to overcome its manpower and armament deficit.
So far, the West has refused to deliver these systems and planes, for fear of provoking a new Russian escalation. But US President Joe Biden said Tuesday he would discuss it with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Already, after long procrastination, Europeans and Americans have given the green light this month to deliveries of modern heavy tanks, even if their number remains at this stage below what kyiv claims.
Many observers believe that both kyiv and Moscow are preparing new offensives for the end of winter or spring.
After a series of humiliating setbacks in the fall, Russia mobilized hundreds of thousands of reservists.
“More than us”
The army, associated with the paramilitary group Wagner, has recently intensified the fighting, in particular to take Bakhmout, a city in the East which it has been shelling since the summer. In recent weeks, Moscow has even claimed the capture of several neighboring localities.
Further south they also undertook an offensive on Vougledar.
“The more time passes, the more the situation gets worse,” Oleksandre, 45, a Ukrainian soldier who fires mortars from his post installed five kilometers from this city, told AFP.
Roman, the 35-year-old commanding officer of the unit, assures holding, but notes to be in inferiority.
“The situation has become very, very tense,” he admits. “They have equipment, they have weapons and they have more people than us.”
For its part, Russia insists that it will continue its assault at all costs, also ensuring that the delivery of longer-range missiles to Ukraine would not change the situation.
“It would imply additional efforts for us, but it will not change the course of events,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.