Reference News Network, August 3 report. According to AFP, on August 2, Ukrainian authorities announced the dismantling of a "large-scale corruption system" in the defense sector and the arrest of several high-ranking officials involved. Previously, the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies had caused a major uproar.
The report said that a law passed at the end of July aimed to place Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office under the supervision of the Chief Prosecutor, who is directly appointed by the president. This legislation triggered strong opposition from the Ukrainian public and the European Union, leading to the first large-scale protests in Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy eventually made concessions, signing a new law on July 31 to restore the independence of the anti-corruption agencies.
The Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau reported on August 2 that, in a joint operation with the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor's office, it uncovered a "large-scale corruption system involving members of parliament, who profited from the procurement of drones and electronic warfare equipment," and four people involved have been arrested.
The report mentioned that Zelenskyy, in a statement, thanked the anti-corruption agencies for their work, emphasizing that "the independent operation of anti-corruption agencies is crucial, and the law passed on July 31 provides all the tools needed for real anti-corruption efforts." This was the most serious political crisis during his six years in office—initially, the president claimed the reform was due to the inefficiency of the relevant agencies and their "Russian influence," later stating that he "listened to the demands of the protesters" and submitted a new bill, which ultimately received support from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the anti-corruption prosecutor's office.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, multiple cases of corruption involving the military and defense in Ukraine have been exposed. (Translated by Pan Geping)
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