Ukraine Arrests Officials in Large-Scale Military Drone Corruption Scheme

Ukrainian authorities have arrested several politicians, including a member of parliament, regional officials, and National Guard members, for their involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme involving the procurement of military drones and electronic warfare equipment at inflated prices. The suspects allegedly inflated contract prices by up to 30% and received kickbacks from these deals. These arrests came shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky reversed a controversial law that had stripped the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) of their independence, a move that sparked nationwide protests and international criticism. Zelensky acknowledged the importance of an independent anti-corruption framework and thanked the agencies for their work in exposing the scheme. European allies welcomed the restoration of these bodies' independence, emphasizing that weakening Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions could jeopardize the country’s aspirations for EU membership. The incident underscores Ukraine's ongoing struggle against corruption amid its war with Russia and the critical role of transparent governance in securing international support.