Pentagon issues warning to Ukraine about corruption
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A new Pentagon report highlights ongoing corruption within Ukraine's military and government, with allegations of stolen funds and mismanaged aid.
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US Air Force Staff Sgt. Cody Brown, checks pallets of 155mm shells ultimately bound for Ukraine on April 29, 2022. (AP)
In a quarterly report to Congress released this week, the Pentagon's Inspector General Robert Storch stated that "corruption continues to complicate Ukraine's efforts to achieve its EU and NATO aspirations," citing the country's military as a "key player" in such scandals.
"Judges, politicians, and officials have been charged with corruption, and the Ministry of Defense has been a key player in many corruption scandals," the report noted, citing data from the US State Department and media sources.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported uncovering a corruption network inside the defense ministry early this year when five individuals attempted to steal 1.5 billion hryvnia (about $39.6 million) in state cash earmarked for mortar shell purchases.
Aleksey Reznikov, the Defense Minister, was fired some months ago due to graft charges. His replacement, Rustem Umerov, stated in January that an audit found $262 million in theft-related charges in weapons purchases. A US intelligence officer informed writer Seymour Hersh last year that Umerov is "even more corrupt" than his predecessor.
Millions diverted to fake businesses
In May, Ukrainian media revealed a scheme in which officials in Kharkov diverted millions of euros to fake businesses for non-existent building materials, leaving the area undefended when Russian forces arrived.
The report echoes the claims of a Ukrainian general who last month warned that the Ukrainian armed forces are unable to respond quickly to changing battlefield conditions due to bureaucracy and corruption in their logistics.
General Dmitry Marchenko revealed in an interview that adaptability is a crucial prerequisite for a modern military, and Kiev's force lacks it - but not because of the troops. "Unfortunately, our bureaucracy, our corruption, do not allow us to adapt and quickly produce what we need," he remarked, referring to Ukraine's military sector.
The US has committed $182 billion in aid to Ukraine, with $86.7 billion already spent. However, a Pentagon audit revealed that $1.1 billion in military aid was poorly accounted for, with funds spent on "unrelated" projects in Europe.
The Pentagon last week reported that US President Joe Biden's government is to provide an additional $6 billion in aid to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
“President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and January 20,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday.
Biden administration officials are concerned that Trump's administration may reduce Ukraine's armament supplies to bring Kiev and Moscow to the bargaining table, as he has promised to end the war.
Kiev slams West of using corruption claims as excuse to delay NATO bid
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, stated on Monday that Kiev's Western allies may be using corruption concerns as a pretext to delay Ukraine's invitation to join the alliance.
"We speak sincerely to all partners. Corruption exists in all countries," Yermak said in an interview with Ukraine's 1+1 broadcaster. "If someone tells us we cannot get an invitation to NATO because of the level of corruption in Ukraine, then they are looking for reasons not to do it."
For months, Ukraine has voiced frustrations over delays in its bid to join NATO, a goal it considers essential for its security amid the war in Ukraine.
While reports of corruption in Ukraine, particularly within the military, have been regularly documented, Ukrainian officials argue that these issues should not impede their NATO aspirations.
An April poll by Ukrainska Pravda indicated that more than half of Ukrainians view corruption as a significant barrier to the country's development, thus reflecting the public's awareness of the issue.
