A Ukrainian Air Force logistics commander and an SBU regional chief were detained for alleged corruption linked to the mismanagement of a 27 million euro construction project for aircraft shelters.
The article reports on the detention of Colonel Andrijus Ukrainecas, the logistics commander of the Ukrainian Air Forces, and Colonel Volodymyras Kompaničenka, the head of the SBU division in the Zhytomyr region, due to alleged corruption in a significant construction project intended to build aircraft shelters. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravčenka, revealed that approximately 1.4 billion hryvnias (around 27 million euros) was allocated for this construction set to be completed by May 2025. However, serious violations were uncovered by the SBU Military Counterintelligence Department, indicating that the projects failed to meet safety requirements and the costs were excessively inflated even as advance payments were being issued for the contracts.
During the ongoing investigation, it was disclosed that Ukraine cas, the logistics commander, sought assistance from the SBU leadership to conceal the embezzlement of budget funds and halt the inspections. He allegedly requested to 'help' in bribing the military counterintelligence management to cover up the scandal. The prosecutor noted that the head of the SBU division agreed and even integrated one of the contractors into this corrupt scheme, further complicating the situation and raising broader questions about the integrity of military spending.
This incident highlights concerns regarding corruption within Ukraine’s military procurement system, especially amid ongoing conflicts that could necessitate stringent oversight of military expenditures. With substantial funds being mismanaged, this situation could undermine confidence in the country’s military operations and logistics capabilities, necessitating urgent reforms and greater accountability to ensure that crucial resources are allocated effectively to support defense efforts.
