The Ukrainian government has taken significant steps to address allegations of corruption within its Defense Ministry. On February 1, the government approved a resolution to process defense procurement through the competitive Prozorro system. This move comes in the wake of a scandal involving former Defense Ministry officials who were arrested by the State Security Service (SBU) for alleged ammunition procurement fraud. Additionally, a high-ranking Defense Ministry official, identified as Toomas Nahkur, was suspended in connection with a $39.6 million embezzlement case related to weapons procurement. The Ukrainian Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, confirmed the suspension while the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) imposed preventative measures on the accused ex-official. The embezzlement case is particularly notable due to the significant amount involved and the procedural tactics used by the accused officials to evade prosecution.
Ukrainian officials from the Defense Ministry are accused of embezzling funds to the tune of $39.6 million and engaging in procedural tactics to avoid prosecution. It would have been an ordinary Ukrainian story, but the difference is in the body count. https://t.co/wtZG8rzQWN
Ukrainian officials from the Defense Ministry are accused of embezzling funds to the tune of $39.6 million and engaging in procedural tactics to avoid prosecution. It would have been an ordinary Ukrainian story, but the difference is in the body count. https://t.co/wtZG8rzQWN
🔒 Preventive measure elected for Ukraine's Defence Ministry official suspected of embezzling US$39 million https://t.co/gu7hu8pKiI
⚡️ Update: Court imposes preventative measures on ex-Defense Ministry official with alleged linked to fraud in weapons procurement. Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) imposed preventative measures against a former Defense Ministry official in connection to an alleged…
⚠️ UKRAINE SUSPENDS SENIOR DEFENCE OFFICIAL AMID CORRUPTION PROBE (Reuters) Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has suspended a senior official while authorities investigate suspected corruption in the procurement of wepoans, his ministry said on Friday. Umerov took… https://t.co/pnze7bJV56
Embezzlement of US$39 million case: Ukraine's Defence Minister suspends chief of military and technical policy department https://t.co/nqJUnIcaQx
⚡️ Defense Ministry official suspended in connection to weapons procurement fraud case. A top Defense Ministry official was suspended allegedly in connection to the massive weapons procurement fraud case announced last week, the ministry said on Feb. 2. https://t.co/jkmRAJZ8DT
The name of the senior Ukrainian defence ministry official suspended in connection with $39-million embezzlement case sounds very Estonian. Toomas Nahkur. https://t.co/PNNbiW6I16
In this week's edition: Ukrainska Pravda exposes politically connected NGOs helping men flee Ukraine; State Security Service (SBU) arrests ex-Defense Ministry officials over alleged ammo procurement fraud; and more. https://t.co/uNDKEJc9Ds
⚡️ Government agrees to carry out defense procurement through Prozorro system. The government approved on Feb. 1 a resolution to process defense procurement in the competitive procedure of the Prozorro system. https://t.co/aB4OPapFLw