Ukrainian Officials Including Zelensky Party MP Arrested for Corruption Amid Military Spending Scandal

Ukrainian authorities have detained several officials, including a lawmaker affiliated with President Zelensky's party, amid ongoing corruption investigations. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced the arrest of four individuals suspected of embezzling funds allocated for military purposes and accepting bribes. Among those detained is Oleksii Kuznetsov, a Member of Parliament from the Servant of the People party, alongside former Luhansk governor Serhii Haidai, Andrii Yurchenko of Luhansk's Rubizhne district, and a National Guard official. NABU reports revealed that the accused conspired to inflate defense procurement costs—covering electronic warfare systems and drones—by approximately 30%, with kickbacks exchanged after contracts were finalized. President Zelensky expressed appreciation for the anti-corruption efforts, emphasizing zero tolerance and justice. These arrests follow recent political debates over the independence of Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies. Public protests and EU pressure prompted Zelensky to revoke a contentious law aimed at curbing agency autonomy. Ukraine continues to grapple with corruption challenges; in 2022, Transparency I...