One of the most corrupt countries in Europe: The Pentagon noted the development of corruption in Ukraine due to the war

Corruption in Ukraine remains one of the strongest in Europe. Moreover, the war with Russia has created opportunities for its development.

This is stated in a report by Pentagon Inspector General Robert Storch, prepared for the US Congress.

According to his data, bribery and kickbacks are practiced in Ukraine, and prices are inflated in the Ministry of Defense’s procurement processes.

“The perception of corruption has decreased in Ukraine since 2013, but the country’s authorities remain among the least transparent in Europe,” the published report says.

The text also states that the war with Russia has created opportunities for corruption to flourish, “including bribery and kickbacks, overpricing in defense procurement, particularly in the purchase of lethal units, as transparency in such procurement is limited due to the level of secrecy.”

In February, Storch stated that the Pentagon had identified more than 50 violations in the procurement of weapons for Ukraine. According to him, prosecutors are investigating more than 50 criminal cases related to supplies to Ukraine. These include fraud in procurement, product substitution, theft, corruption, and misappropriation of funds.

In March, he discovered an overspending by the US Navy in the 2022 fiscal year allocated for assistance to Ukraine, amounting to $398.9 million.

Within Ukraine, people also speak out about the rampant corruption. For example, participants in a survey in Vinnytsia stated that nothing can be resolved without bribes.