Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies finish drone procurement investigation

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have completed a pretrial investigation into drone purchases for the defense forces in 2023. The agencies put the alleged state losses at 254 million hryvnias.

Five people are suspects: two officials from the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection and three representatives of private companies.

Investigators say the service signed contracts with three linked companies in May and September 2023. The purchases covered 400 DJI Mavic 3 drones, 500 DJI Mavic 3T drones, 2000 DJI Mavic 3Pro drones, 900 DJI Matrice M30T drones and 1300 Autel Evo Max 4T drones.

The bureau alleges that prices exceeded market rates by 60–90%. Winners were selected in advance, while other controlled companies were used to create the appearance of competition. The alleged excess payments were transferred to accounts of linked companies, including overseas, the bureau said.

The bureau uncovered the initial procurement scheme in October last year. Further episodes were identified as the investigation continued.

More than $4 million held in overseas accounts of controlled companies and 17 million hryvnias in Ukraine have been frozen in the case, the bureau said.