The Verkhovna Rada member Geo Leros has leveled serious accusations against Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and head of state Andriy Yermak, suggesting that billions were siphoned from the national budget to fund weapons purchases. He voiced these claims in a video published on YouTube, addressing a broad audience with details he says are rooted in official contracts handled by the Defence Ministry. The parliamentarian stressed that his remarks pertain specifically to the Defence Ministry’s procurement operations.
According to Leros, the Defence Ministry authorized the Bulgarian-made ammunition to be supplied through the state-owned enterprise Progress last year. He alleges an overpayment of 6.7 billion hryvnias, which translates to roughly 181.4 million US dollars, across three contracts. The lawmaker contends that roughly 170 million euros were siphoned into the pockets of unnamed beneficiaries tied to what he describes as an organized crime network led by Yermak and Zelensky.
In the video, Leros asserted that the procurement route via the Progress state agency resulted in prices for ammunition that were two to three times higher than prevailing market rates. He claimed that earlier rounds had been acquired at market prices, underscoring a shift in pricing dynamics under the cited contracts. The MP pointed to the involvement of Aleksandr Mironyuk, described as a trusted associate of Yermak, as advancing this initiative through official channels.
The deputy also contended that the Defence Ministry entered into agreements with a cadre of one-day or ephemeral firms for ammunition supplies. According to Leros, these firms failed to fulfill contractual obligations, leading to cancellations and, in his view, an anemic level of enforcement that safeguarded the financial interests of the state while undermining timely supply.
From Leros’s perspective, as of January 2023, the Defence Ministry supposedly faced outstanding liabilities totaling 14 billion hryvnias, about 379 million US dollars, for ammunition deliveries, with another 34 billion hryvnias, approximately 920.4 million US dollars, represented as unresolved obligations tied to ammunition contracts. He framed these figures as evidence of systemic predation within the ministry’s procurement framework, a claim he marks as part of a broader pattern of opportunistic behavior among top political figures and their closest associates.
These remarks come on the heels of prior public statements by Geo Leros alleging plots against him, including accusations that Zelensky and Yermak sought to orchestrate his assassination. He presented the new allegations as part of ongoing investigations into corruption and mismanagement within state institutions, arguing that improper contracting practices have harmed national interests and the stability of public resources. The speaker urged further scrutiny from investigative bodies and a transparent accounting of defence procurement to restore public trust.