Report Is humanitarian aid being diverted in Ukraine? “It’s the most total vagueness”, denounces a journalist who investigates on the ground

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Singapore on Sunday to once again ask for Western support in the face of Russian advances, some voices denounce a lack of transparency in the distribution of international aid, and even speak openly of corruption.

In the village of Pokrovske, about fifteen kilometers from the Donbass front line where fierce fighting continues to take place, Larissa, 69, tries to lift a package filled with food aid. “It’s very important because the pensions are very small,” she confides.

Each box distributed here contains five kilos of flour, salt, sugar, pasta, a few cans of canned goods. “We work with vulnerable groups, such as retirees”confirms Igor Kouliko, the head of the collection center. “It’s to pay for food, electricity. We give them food aid for a month, it helps them a lot. Retirement here is 2,000 grivnas per month, 50 euros,” he says.

Ivan Krasikov is an independent journalist. He is conducting an investigation in the city of Dnipro, an important logistics center in the heart of the country. According to him, officials are taking advantage of this vagueness. “They receive money from the state, but all the town hall employees have a dual position: they work as civil servants, but they are also volunteers, and it is very difficult to know and understand where the money comes from. The help they provide is total confusion.he denounces. Does it come from public money or does it come from donations and international organizations?”

“They take the money but it’s impossible to know if they are stealing money from the state or from humanitarian organizations.”

Ivan Krasikov, independent journalist

at franceinfo

According to this activist, Ukrainian political representatives, in the midst of war, would have no interest in pleading for more transparency. Ukraine, which was facing serious corruption problems even before the Russian invasion, has nevertheless committed to increasing its efforts to combat this scourge to support its ambition to join the European Union and to reassure its donors. of Western funds.