Top Ukrainian officials arrested in military drone procurement scandal

August 2, 2025

Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies say they have uncovered a major fraud involving the purchase of military drones and jamming equipment at inflated prices.

The announcement comes just two days after parliament restored the independence of the country’s top anti-graft bodies—NABU and SAPO—following nationwide protests.

In a statement posted on social media, both agencies said a sitting lawmaker, two local officials, and several national guard personnel were implicated in the scheme. They did not reveal the names of those involved.

“The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices,” the statement read.

The agencies said those involved received illegal payments amounting to as much as 30% of each contract’s value. Four individuals have been arrested so far.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commented on the development, saying:
“There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence.”

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Zelenskiy’s government had previously moved to place NABU and SAPO under the control of the prosecutor-general.

The decision sparked the largest public protests since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.

Facing pressure from the public and international partners, Zelenskiy reversed course and introduced a bill to restore the agencies’ independence. Parliament passed the bill on Thursday.

European officials had warned that weakening Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework could derail its hopes of joining the European Union.

After the arrests were announced, Zelenskiy met with the heads of NABU and SAPO to discuss the investigation.

Following the meeting, he said:
“It is important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently, and the law adopted on Thursday guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption.”