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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The country was rocked by a corruption scandal while it was busy fighting against the Russian invasion. Photo/REUTERS
KIEV – Scandal corruption shook Ukraine when the country was at war against invasion Russia . A deputy minister was arrested and sacked and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s aide resigned.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Vasyl Lozinskyi was arrested and sacked on suspicion of stealing $400,000 in funds meant to buy aid, including generators.
A Ukrainian anti-corruption detective and prosecutor uncovered the case shortly after President Zelensky vowed that the old ways of corruption would not be repeated in his country.
“I want this to be clear: there will be no return to the past, to the way of life of various people who were close to state institutions or those who spent their whole lives chasing the chair (of office) they used to be,” Zelensky said in his late Sunday address without mention the case specifically.
Also read: Zelensky Promises to Immediately Fix Corruption Findings in the Middle of War
According to the anti-corruption agency, Lozinskyi had colluded with contractors to increase the price of the generators and siphon some of the difference.
Other national and regional officials were also reportedly involved in the corruption case.
During the summer, the Ukrainian government allocated 1.68 billion hryvnia for goods and technology that would help provide its population with alternative sources of energy, water and heat during the winter.
These items were purchased to prepare Ukraine in case Russia targets its energy infrastructure – which it has been doing regularly, starting in September last year.
Lozinskyi was detained on Saturday by anti-corruption investigators. In a statement, they said they found $38,000 worth of cash in Lozinskyi’s office and published pictures of piles of dollar and hryvnia notes.
