Suspicion of corruption in the Ukrainian army: Minister reports that the president of the EU parliament has been invited to a luxury hotel with her husband

According to official information, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov will address reports of overpriced food purchases for the army before parliament in Kiev. Reznikov has been invited to a hearing, Deputy Chairman of the Rada Committee for National Security, Defense and Reconnaissance Marjana Besugla told national broadcaster Suspilne Media on Saturday. In addition, the Court of Audit will scrutinize the Ministry of Defence.

Earlier media reports in Kiev caused a stir that the Defense Ministry was buying food to feed its soldiers at prices up to three times higher than store prices in stores. The contract for 13 billion hryvnia (more than 300 million euros) would be about feeding the soldiers at the front, but at the rear.

fight against corruption

Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June, four months after Russia launched an offensive war against the country. The conditions for accession include the rule of law and progress in the fight against corruption, where Ukraine, despite numerous efforts in recent years, is still at the bottom of the world rankings.

Remarkable: A few years ago, the opposition in Russia also exposed a corruption scandal involving the catering of the army. As it turned out, most of the orders went to oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, also known as “Putin’s cook” because of his close ties to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. The revelations had no effect.

Today, as head of Wagner’s mercenary unit, Prigozhin is one of the main pillars of the Russian offensive war against Ukraine and one of the most powerful men in Moscow. (sda/dpa)