Drone Procurement Corruption Scheme: NABU and SAPU Expose Officials in Government Agencies
In an extensive investigation, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SAPU) uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme orchestrated by a senior official within the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, this individual devised a complex scheme to embezzle public funds allocated for the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of a program aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capabilities.
Law enforcement authorities revealed that the agency bought drones at significantly inflated prices from preselected companies controlled by insiders, creating false competition and distorted market research.
A total of over 400 DJI Mavic 3 drones and 1,300 Autel Evo Max 4T drones were purchased at prices 70-90% above market value, resulting in losses exceeding 90 million hryvnias to the state budget.
The stolen funds were funneled into accounts controlled by the perpetrators, some of which were located abroad.
Authorities managed to seize assets exceeding 4 million dollars internationally and another 17 million hryvnias domestically.
Suspicions have been formally announced for several officials involved in the scheme, and investigations are ongoing.
Previously, NABU and SAPU, in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), exposed a money laundering center linked to former tax officials, which handled transactions worth 15 billion hryvnias.
Currently, eleven individuals have been officially accused, demonstrating the government’s commitment to combating corruption within public institutions.