KYIV – Shortly after Ukraine’s parliament reinstated the autonomy of anti-corruption bodies, these agencies have exposed a significant corruption scheme tied to military supply contracts.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) issued a statement on social media, detailing how suspects accepted bribes in a plot that manipulated state funds to purchase drones and other military supplies at inflated costs.

According to the statement, “The scheme involved creating government contracts with suppliers at intentionally higher rates,” with offenders allegedly pocketing kickbacks equaling up to 30% of the contracts’ total values.

The anti-corruption agencies did not name those detained but highlighted that a Ukrainian lawmaker, local district and city officials, and National Guard members were implicated. They have apprehended four individuals so far, and the Interior Ministry has confirmed that the implicated National Guard members have been suspended.

Drones play a vital role in the modern conflicts faced by Ukraine and Russia, offering advantages in reconnaissance and targeted military actions. The majority of Russian military assets destroyed by Ukraine, including personnel and equipment, have been targeted using drones. Drone manufacturing is pivotal to Ukraine’s ambitions of boosting its local military industry and exporting to foreign markets.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked on the incident in his Saturday night address, deeming the corruption scheme “utterly unethical” and expressed gratitude to the anti-corruption bodies for their vigilance.

“Unfortunately, these corruption schemes involved the procurement of electronic warfare systems and FPV drones … There must be full and fair accountability for this,” he said in his address, posted to X.

In an earlier post, which also included photos of him meeting with the agency heads, Zelenskyy said it is “important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently,” adding that “the law passed on Thursday guarantees them all the tools necessary for a real fight against corruption.”

The exposure of the graft scheme by NABU and SAPO came just two days after Ukraine’s parliament voted to restore their independence.

Ukraine’s Parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the bill presented by Zelenskyy, reversing his earlier contentious move that curbed their power and sparked a backlash, including street protests, a rarity in wartime.

Last week’s measure to place the watchdogs under the oversight of the prosecutor-general prompted rebukes from Ukrainians, the European Union and international rights groups. It raised fears that the government could meddle in investigations and potentially shield its supporters from scrutiny.

Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars of vital Western aid in the all-out war, now in its fourth year. It’s also an effort that enjoys broad public support.

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Morton reported from London.