Ukraine's military medical commissions plagued by corruption scandals

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Times
24 Sep 2023 15:43

Soldiers who want to fight but aren't healthy enough may also pay bribes to enter the army.

Russia Ukraine War Hospital. (AP)

Ukraine's military medical commissions, responsible for assessing the fitness of men for military service, have been at the center of a corruption scandal, The Times reported on Sunday.

It's alleged that doctors accepted kickbacks from unwilling draftees or soldiers in exchange for issuing "white ticket" exemptions from service.

The head of Odessa's regional military mobilization office, Yevhen Borysov, was arrested and is under investigation; he is accused of acquiring illegal payoffs totaling $5 million.

This corruption scandal has led Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dismiss the heads of all regional mobilization offices.

Anti-corruption activists found that more than 50,000 white tickets exempting men on medical grounds were issued by commissions under Borysov's jurisdiction.

The price for an illegal white ticket was around $7,000 before the scandal and has risen to approximately $20,000.

Ukraine's military medical commissions face challenges on both ends of the spectrum.

On one hand, corrupt officials take bribes to allow men to evade the draft, while on the other hand, they sometimes disregard legitimate medical concerns among wounded soldiers who should be released.

Soldiers who want to fight but aren't healthy enough may also pay bribes to enter the army.

A change in the law has expanded military eligibility to include individuals with various medical conditions, leading to the recruitment of a significant number of soldiers.

Despite this, the need for fresh troops remains constant in Ukraine's ongoing conflict.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Ukrainian authorities made accusations of money laundering and fraud against billionaire oligarch Igor Kolomoysky, the owner of a media holding, through which Zelensky made his rise to fame as a comedian and later as a presidential candidate.

Moreover, an investigation by a Ukranian NGO has recently found that an ex-Ukrainian recruitment officer, accused of accepting bribes from men looking to avoid military service, has bought himself a £3.4 million villa and cars in Spain.

On August 11, Zelensky fired officials in charge of military conscription in each area of the nation, alleging corruption charges that might amount to treason.

In a social media post after a meeting with military leaders, the Ukrainian President explained the dismissals. He hinted that some officials were involved in cynicism and bribery, stating that the "system should be run" by people who know these actions amount to high treason during a time of war.

Kiev has been conscripting troops in order to combat Russia in a painfully slow-moving counteroffensive, which many argue so far that has failed.