Tag: ukraine

Ukraine’s Anti-Graft Agencies Say They Uncovered Major Drone Procurement Bribery Case

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies said on Aug. 2 they had uncovered a large-scale bribery scheme involving the procurement of military drones and electronic warfare equipment.

This came just days after the agencies’ independence was restored following mass protests over government efforts to curb their powers.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said in a statement on Saturday that the alleged plot involved a sitting lawmaker, current and former regional officials, National Guard personnel, and a company executive.

Investigators alleged that those involved had refined a scheme over the past two years to systematically siphon off budget funds allocated by local authorities for defense needs, and to secure “unfair benefits in particularly large quantities.”

Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, identified the accused lawmaker as Oleksii Kuznetsov of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party.

Party leader Davyd Arakhamiia later said on Telegram that Kuznetsov’s membership in the parliamentary faction would be suspended while the investigation is underway, and that a disciplinary panel was weighing his expulsion.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Ukrainian parliament’s press office with a request to forward a comment request to Kuznetsov.

In a separate statement, the party said it supported the work of NABU and SAPO, and stressed that responsibility for corrupt acts “must be borne by everyone, regardless of position, status or political affiliation.”

It said the recently passed law restoring the agencies’ independence “created additional guarantees for their work,” for them to act decisively and professionally in combating corruption.

Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on X on Saturday that he had been briefed on the investigation by the heads of NABU and SAPO, confirming that a lawmaker, local officials, and several National Guard servicemembers had been “exposed for bribery.”

“I am grateful to the anti-corruption agencies for their work,” he wrote. “There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork in uncovering it, and ultimately, a fair sentence. It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law passed on Thursday guarantees them all the tools necessary for a real fight against corruption.”

The law he referred to marked a dramatic about-face for his administration.

Keep reading

Zelensky Party Lawmaker Among Ukraine Officials Arrested over Corruption: Report

Multiple military and political officials in Ukraine, reportedly including a lawmaker from President Zelensky’s party, have been accused of corruption schemes to steal money intended for the war effort and bribery.

Just weeks after thousands took to the streets of Kyiv to protest against the loosening of anti-corruption standards, forcing the Zelensky government to backtrack immediately, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said that four people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption.

According to a report from Ukrainska Pravda, this included Member of Parliament Oleksii Kuznetsov of Zelensky’s Servant of the People party. The news outlet went on to claim that the other officials included former Luhansk governor Serhii Haidai, head of Luhansk Oblast’s Rubizhne district Andrii Yurchenko, and an official from Ukraine’s National Guard.

In a statement, the NABU said that the officials established a scheme to fraudulently overcharge on defence spending, including on electronic warfare systems and on military drones, by upwards of 30 per cent.

“After the contract was executed, the company’s officials handed over their ‘kickback’ to the members of the criminal group,” the agency said.

Keep reading

Climbing Aboard the Titanic: Trump’s New Ukraine Policy

When Donald Trump entered the White House for his second term as president, he had an excellent opportunity to extricate the United States from the quagmire war between Russia and Ukraine.  His instincts–that continued involvement in that conflict was not in America’s best interests—were sound.  Indeed, he signaled throughout the 2024 presidential campaign that he intended to terminate military and financial aid to Kyiv as soon as possible.  Most of his MAGA supporters seemed to agree that the Biden administration’s willingness to send billions of dollars to Ukraine when the United States had pressing needs at home was disgraceful.

Just months into his term, however, the president seems to have abandoned the goal of jettisoning the Ukraine commitment.  Instead, he has continued weapons shipments to Kyiv and authorized new ones.  He also expresses growing hostility toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and is making ever more unrealistic demands on Moscow.  In mid-July, that shift in policy included his insistence that the Kremlin accept a comprehensive ceasefire as the first stage of a peace accord with Ukraine—and do so within 50 days.  In late July, Trump moved up the deadline for Moscow’s acquiescence to such terms to no more than 10 to 12 days.  Otherwise, he warned, the United States would impose new economic sanctions on Russia far more onerous than those already in effect.  

The threat to impose stronger economic sanctions, though, has lost much of its clout.    Despite suffering some economic pain, Russia has been surprisingly resilient in handling existing sanctions.  Moscow has done an especially impressive job of finding alternative markets for its principal exports, most notably oil and natural gas.  There is no reason to believe that the situation would be different this time.  Increasing Washington’s military support for NATO’s Ukrainian proxy might have more impact, but it also would be utterly reckless, bringing the specter of World War III into play. 

Trump has picked an especially inauspicious time to join Ukraine’s Western fan club.  It is ironic that he is continuing– and even escalating–Washington’s commitment to Ukraine at precisely the moment that Kyiv’s status as viable U.S. and NATO client has become increasingly doubtful.  Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield, slowly conquering additional Ukrainian territory.  The bloodied Ukrainian forces appear increasingly beleaguered, and Russia (because of its much larger population and military reserves) is better positioned for a continuing war of attrition. 

Keep reading

Zelensky Signs Law Allowing Ukrainians Over 60 To Join The Military

Ukrainians aged 60 and older can now serve in non-combat roles thanks to new legislation. The elderly Ukrainians will need special approval and get medical clearance before enlisting.

The law was passed by the Ukrainian legislature earlier this month and signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, allowing people over the age of 60 to serve in limited roles until martial law in Ukraine is lifted.

While the current martial law authorization is set to lapse next month, Zelensky has requested that lawmakers extend it for an additional 90 days. Zelensky’s presidential term has already expired, and he has used martial law to remain in office.

Zelensky signed the law increasing the age limit as Ukraine continues to struggle with manpower in the war with Russia. Last year, Ukraine lowered its draft age from 27 to 25, but has resisted calls from the US to drop it to 18.

Regional media explains:

According to the Verkhovna Rada website, the law was returned with the president’s signature on Tuesday, July 29. Parliament had passed the legislation on Wednesday, July 16.

The law applies exclusively to volunteers – there is no provision for compulsory service in this age group.

Under the updated Law “On Military Duty and Military Service,” citizens aged 60+ can now enlist under contract during martial law, provided they are deemed medically fit by a military commission and have written consent from a unit commander.

Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod explained earlier this month that her country was facing a severe manpower shortage, saying, “Our main problem is people. Nobody is giving us people.”

Keep reading

What’s The Most Realistic Scenario In Which The West Might Replace Zelensky?

They might wait until after Russia agrees to a ceasefire (if it ever does) since replacing him with Zaluzhny while hostilities still rage could further weaken Ukraine to Russia’s benefit.

Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) published a report in late July alleging that the Anglo-American Axis organized a secret meeting in the Alps with Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Yermak, GUR chief Budanov, and former Commander-in-Chief-turned-Ambassador-to-Britain Zaluzhny over Ukraine’s future. According to them, Yermak and Budanov agreed with the Anglo-American Axis’ proposal to replace Zelensky with Zaluzhny, which could be advanced on anti-corruption pretexts and “reset” Ukraine’s ties with the West.

Sputnik shared the following assessment of SVR’s report by former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter: “SVR and its press service are ‘not a media outlet,’ Ritter pointed out. ‘They’re not there to inform the public when they release information. It’s usually done to achieve an objective or purpose’ – in this case signalling the desire to ‘inflict the most harm on Zelensky at a time when he is deemed to be most vulnerable,’ and ramp up divisions within his government, and between him and Zaluzhny”.

Keep reading

Trump’s Russia Sanctions Ultimatum Will Blow Up In America’s Face: Jeffrey Sachs

Economist and longtime adviser to the UN Jeffrey Sachs has issued a scathing critique of President Trump’s decision to unleash yet more anti-Russia sanctions, giving Moscow just ten days to negotiate for peace with Ukraine or else the new punitive measures will go into effect.

Sachs called the new policy “dangerous” and a sign that the Trump administration is plagued by contradictions and lack of a coherent strategy for ending the war, despite constant early boasting that Trump would rapidly achieve peace. The ‘secondary sanctions’ aimed primarily at those nations still trading with Russia are doomed to be ineffective anyway, the Colombia University professor pointed out.

“If the sanctions are actually applied, they are an escalation of the conflict, and therefore very dangerous. I do not believe that they will be effective,” he said in an interview with Russian media.

“For example, I do not believe they will stop Russia from selling oil, gas, and other commodities to Asian markets. Yet, provocations and escalation often have unpredictable negative effects, and that could be true here as well,” he added.

The new restrictions are likely to backfire regardless, as they “could expose” the “incompetence” or even “accelerate the breakup” of US-led geopolitical and economic blocs.

“This is, in short, the wrong approach. We need diplomacy and negotiation to get to the root causes of the conflict, and solve them, not unworkable ultimatums based on the idea of an unconditional ceasefire,” Sachs added.

He further highlighted the West’s inability to acknowledge and come to terms with the real underlying causes of Ukraine war, such as historic NATO expansion east, the sham Minsk accords, or the coup events of 2014.

“Instead, the Western powers now demand an unconditional ceasefire. Russia will not agree to this, nor will a new round of US sanctions compel Russia to agree to this,” Sachs emphasized.

Keep reading

‘IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS’: Russian Forces Conquer Donetsk Stronghold of Chasov Yar After 17 Months of Siege

Chasov Yar opens up the way for the largest bastion in Donetsk, the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk agglomeration.

Another ‘impregnable fortress’ in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk has fallen to the advances of the Russian forces.

This time, it was heavily fortified Chasov Yar.

We have been reporting on the battle for the city for a very long time. Back in April 2024, we started the series of articles with The Battle for Chasov Yar Has Begun – Russian Troops Reach the Outskirts of Key Donbas City – What We Learned From the Sieges of Mariupol, Bakhmut and Avdeevka (VIDEOS).

In the post you can find this: “Three things stand out from the coverage of the battles for Mariupol, Bakhmut (now called Artemovsk) and Avdeevka: to begin with, it will be long and bloody. Besides that, during all the operation, fake news shills will insist on how badly things are going for the besiegers. And finally, once the town is conquered, all the media will say that the city is nothing but a ‘meaningless pile of ruble’.

And so, as the battle for key Donetsk oblast stronghold of Chasov Yar commences, the usual scenario is at play.”

“To begin with, it will be long and bloody.” That was in no way an overstatement, as we learn that now, 17 months later, the Russian Defense Ministry announces that Chasov Yar has been conquered – or, as they prefer, ‘liberated’.

Keep reading

‘Our Work Has Been Effectively Stopped’: Top Ukrainian Anti-corruption Prosecutor Says That Even if Zelensky’s Backtrack Law Gets Approved, the Damage Is Done

Here on TGP we are keeping a close look on the developments in Kiev regarding regime leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s power grab and dismantling of the Anti-Corruption agencies NABU e SAPO.

Street protests across the country and severe backlash from Western allies shook Bankova Street to the core.

While Zelensky eventually relented and presented new legislation undoing the previous contentious law, his ‘faux-pas’ has unleashed developments that would have been unthinkable just a couple of months ago.

To begin with, reinforcing previous reporting by Seymour Hersh, we learn that Russian Intel: US and UK Working to Oust Zelensky and Enthrone Zaluzhny – Ukrainian General Is Portrayed in the Pages of Vogue.

And even across the sea, we find out that European Union Suspends ALL Aid to Ukraine as Kiev Continues to Pressure the Anti-corruption Agencies.

And today, Ukraine’s top anti-corruption comes public in the western media to warn that the anti-corruption agencies are facing ‘more political pressure and smear campaigns’.

Keep reading

GOLDEN TOILET SECRETS: Ukrainian Sources Allege Anti-corruption Wiretaps Recorded Zelensky’s Shady Deals in His Friend and ‘Treasurer’ Mindich’s Gilded Bathroom

Brace yourselves, because one of the craziest stories of the war in Ukraine has just hit.

We would be ready to dismiss this whole affair as just an extreme manifestation of Russian propaganda on steroids – but in fact the story is entirely sourced by Ukrainian media and members of the Rada parliament.

Last Sunday (27), Ukrainian online newspaper Strana reported that suspects in major Ukrainian anti-corruption cases had testified against Volodymyr Zelensky.

Sputnik relayed the report on Telegram:

“National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) investigations center on Timur Mindich — Zelensky’s close associate and alleged ‘treasurer’.

[…] Special security forces (SBU) reportedly seized encrypted data revealing that those in his circle flipped.”

And that’s when the craziest part of the story kicks in, once again traced to Ukrainian sources – in this case an MP.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak is young a Ukrainian economist and politician, former adviser to Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

And before the usual accusations of being Putin’s puppet arise, he was elected in the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary vote a People’s Deputy of Ukraine from the liberal, pro-European Holos party

The story is simple: Zelensky’s attack on the anti-corruption agency NABU, was the result of a criminal case which was being prepared against one of Zelensky’s closest associates, his business partner Timur Mindich.

(So far, this story pretty much reinforces the previous Strana report, but there’s bizarre details involved).

Keep reading

Zelensky Urges Women and Seniors to Enlist

Where have we seen this before? President Volodymyr Zelensky is wiping through troops so rapidly that he is encouraging men and women over 60 years of age to enlist in the military. Previously prohibited, Zelensky signed the measure into law under the premise of martial law.

The new law encourages people over 60 to sign up for one-year military contracts if they are cleared to serve. There is now no maximum age of service. The Ukrainian military will place seniors under a two-month probationary period to see if they are fit to fight. I fear where they would place these individuals on the battlefield.

Last April, Zelensky also lowered the draft age from 27 to 25. Casualties outnumbered estimates, and in February 2025, Zelensky implemented one-year military contracts for teens and young adults aged 18 to 24 on a voluntary basis. The youngest and oldest among the population are encouraged to fight voluntarily, for now—again, where have we seen this before in modern history?

Keep reading