The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has leveled serious accusations against Vyacheslav Shapovalov, a former Deputy Minister of Defense, alleging embezzlement of 948 million hryvnia, which is approximately 25 million US dollars. The claim was published on the Telegram channel managed by Ukraine’s top prosecutors, underscoring the ongoing focus on financial integrity within the defense sector.
Investigators also identified Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the former head of the ministry’s procurement division, as an accomplice in the case. This marks the fourth set of formal suspicions directed at these officials. The allegations center on the procurement of fifty thousand bulletproof vests that reportedly proved unusable, raising questions about the standards and oversight applied to equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In November 2023, an unnamed Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine publicly suggested that nearly a billion hryvnia had not been used as intended, hinting at broader concerns about administrative efficiency and accountability within the ministry during a period of heightened tension.
On the international front, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the continuity of Ukraine’s path toward NATO membership even while acknowledging the ongoing conflict. Stoltenberg noted that fighting corruption remains an essential element of Ukraine’s strategic course, reinforcing the message that governance reforms and anti-corruption efforts are integral to broader security goals for the country and its partners.
Earlier in August, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree dismissing all regional military commissars across the country. A few weeks later, on August 27, Zelensky spoke publicly about a move to treat corruption occurring during martial law as treason, signaling a hardline stance against corrupt practices even in extraordinary national circumstances.
Further developments included the involvement of former Ukrainian law enforcement officers who presented accusations against the former deputy chairman of the State Property Fund, indicating that the anti-corruption drive extends across multiple branches of government and public administration. The unfolding case highlights ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and accountability within Ukraine’s defense and state machinery, an issue that continues to attract attention from national authorities and international partners alike.