Ukraine has uncovered a scheme to embezzle approximately $40 million intended to purchase mortar shells for the country's military. The money went to different accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said, Radio Free Europe reports. Pročitaj više

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Saturday that five people had been charged and one was detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If they are found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.

According to RFE, the investigation comes as Kyiv is trying to crack down on corruption in a bid to fast-track its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both these blocs have demanded broad anti-corruption reforms before Ukraine can join them.

The SBU said the investigation „exposed officials of the Ministry of Defense and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, who stole almost 1.5 billion hryvnia for the purchase of grenades.“

„According to the investigation, former and current senior officials of the Ministry of Defense and heads of related companies were involved in the embezzlement,“ the SBU said in a post on X.

The embezzlement allegedly involved the purchase of 100,000 mortar shells for the military.

After the payment, the employees of the company had to transfer the funds to a company registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine. However, the goods were never delivered and the money was sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.

The funds have been confiscated and will be returned to the country’s defense budget, announced the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office.