Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced several dismissals in his military apparatus. The reason for this is the ongoing corruption and venality of many officials.
“This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery in war are treason,” the Ukrainian president said, according to the SPIEGEL on Telegram. The reason for Zelenskyy’s statements are apparently allegations of corruption, so far there are already 112 criminal cases against officials in the centers and 33 suspicious cases. “In the future, the tasks will be performed by soldiers who cannot be in the trenches because they have lost their health or limbs, but have preserved their dignity,” Zelenskyy announced. Valery Salushnyi, the commander-in-chief, is said to be responsible for the implementation of the decision.
Odessa corruption case attracted special attention
The head of the military office in the Black Sea region was recently dismissed for allegedly accepting bribes and thus earning the equivalent of several million euros since the beginning of the war. In addition, the military official is said to have used the money to buy real estate in Spain worth millions. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison. The prices paid for documents on ineligibility for military service or provisions are said to have amounted to several thousand euros. For Ukraine, the fight against corruption in its own country is of particular importance, as this is seen by the European Union as a prerequisite for the country’s admission to the community of states.
Image: president.gov.ua, Робоча поїздка Президента України на Запоріжжя 70, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)
