By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted 2 hours ago, updated 1 hour ago
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. ANDRE PAIN / AFP
According to several national media, the Ukrainian ministry had reached an agreement on “two to three higher prices” for food products destined for its soldiers.
Ukraine’s defense ministry on Sunday denied signing contracts for inflated prices for food products for its soldiers and dismissed any allegations of corruption in a country where embezzlement is common.
The comments come a day after press reports in the national media accused the Ukrainian ministry of agreeing on prices “two to three times higher” than current tariffs on staple foods.
The signed contract in question for 2023 would amount to 13 billion hryvnia, or $350 million at the current exchange rate, according to news site ZN.UA. “The ministry buys the relevant products in accordance with the procedure established by law,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense replied, judging the information published in the press as “false”.
Internal Hearing
“These are being disseminated with intent to deliberately manipulate,” criticized the ministry, which said it was “preparing documents” to launch an investigation into “the dissemination” of this “misleading” information that “harms defense interests.” a special time”. The ministry underlined “its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption”. The signed contracts are “controlled”, he added.
But he also announced “an internal audit” and an “emergency meeting” surrounding Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiï Reznikov to be held on Monday to “fully shed light on the process (and) circumstances surrounding the purchase of food for military personnel for 2023.” .
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“In case of detection of violations in the activities of Ministry of Defense officials, they will be responsible according to the applicable law,” the Ukrainian ministry confirmed in its press release.
In another scandal that erupted over the weekend, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) on Saturday arrested the First Deputy Minister for Municipal and Territorial Development on suspicion of embezzlement, according to the infrastructure ministry. Vasyl Lozynkiï, in office since May 2020, “received ($400,000) to facilitate the conclusion of contracts for the purchase of equipment and generators at inflated prices,” specified NABU in a press release, while Ukraine is facing electricity shortages is following Russian strikes on its power plants.
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