KYIV, UKRAINE: A number of senior Ukrainian officers introduced their resignations Tuesday because the defence ministry was shaken by accusations of meals procurement fraud, within the nation’s largest corruption scandal for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine has a historical past of endemic corruption, together with among the many political elite, however efforts to stamp out graft have been overshadowed by Moscow’s full-scale warfare that started in February.
Kyiv’s Western allies, who’ve allotted billions of {dollars} in monetary and navy assist, have been pushing for anti-corruption reforms for years, generally as a precondition for support.
Ukraine’s deputy defence minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, the deputy head of the presidential administration Kyrylo Tymoshenko and deputy prosecutor basic Oleksiy Symonenko have been among the many officers who stood down.
The defence ministry introduced the resignation of Shapovalov, who was in command of the military’s logistical assist, on the heels of accusations it was signing meals contracts at inflated costs.
Native media stories final week accused the ministry of getting signed a deal at costs “two to a few instances greater” than present charges for primary foodstuffs.
In a press release, the ministry insisted the accusations have been “unfounded and baseless” however mentioned Shapovalov’s departure would “protect the belief of society and worldwide companions”.
Tymoshenko, who has labored with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky since his election in 2019 and oversaw regional coverage, additionally introduced his resignation Tuesday.
He posted a photograph of himself holding a handwritten resignation letter, thanking the president for the “alternative to do good deeds on daily basis and each minute”.
Tymoshenko was implicated in a number of scandals throughout his tenure, together with in October final yr when he was accused of utilizing a automotive donated to Ukraine for humanitarian functions.
The departure of Symonenko, a deputy prosecutor basic, comes after media stories that he spent a vacation in Spain this winter, reportedly utilizing a automotive belonging to a Ukrainian businessman.
– Cussed drawback –
In his night tackle on Monday, Zelensky introduced coming “personnel selections” at numerous ranges and mentioned he was banning officers from travelling overseas for functions not associated to work.
“In the event that they need to relaxation now, they’ll relaxation outdoors the civil service,” Zelensky mentioned. Transparency Worldwide ranked Ukraine 122 out of 180 in its corruption rating for 2021.
The shakeups come after a Ukrainian deputy minister of growth of communities, territories and infrastructure was sacked over the weekend following his arrest on suspicion of embezzlement.
Vasyl Lozynskiy was accused of receiving a bribe to “facilitate” the acquisition of mills at inflated costs as Ukraine faces electrical energy shortages following Russian strikes on the power grid.
The European Union has highlighted anti-corruption measures as one of many key reforms Ukraine wants to realize candidate standing for the bloc.
In response to the Centre for Financial Technique, a Ukrainian assume tank, the whole quantity of Western navy and monetary assist for Kyiv might whole $100 billion this yr, together with greater than $40 billion for its armed forces.