Ukraine, Dogged By Corruption Allegations, Sees Largest Government Shakeup Since War Began

A delegation of top Ukrainian officials including a military leader left the government Tuesday to become President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration grapples with allegations of fraud and corruption.

The deputy head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, and Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko. According to a report by, the latest shakeup in Ukraine’s government is the largest since the conflict with Russia began in February 2022. The New York Times.

On Tuesday, Deputy Defense Minister Shapovalov quit due to a scandal surrounding the military’s purchase of high-priced supplies. Local media in Ukraine reported last week that the Ukrainian military purchased food supplies at much higher prices than market.

The Defense Ministry purchased eggs from the military at an almost one-and-a half times higher price than the market price in Kyiv. outlet uncovered. The ministry paid 17 hryvnias (Ukraine’s currency equivalent to $0.46) per unit when the price for the same unit in the Ukrainian capital sits around 7 hryvnias ($0.19).

Another example is that the ministry paid 22 Hryvnias ($0.60 per kilogram) for potatoes, whereas the price for potatoes in Kyiv was around 9 Hryvnias (0.24).

The Defense Ministry posted on Telegram that Shapovalov was leaving. The Defense Ministry denied Shapovalov had committed any wrongdoing but said that he was resigning his position. “not to pose a threat to the stable supply of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a result of a campaign of accusations related to the purchase of food services,” According to POLITICO.

On Tuesday, Prosecutor-General Andrii Kostin dismissed Deputy Prosecutor-General Symonenko after revelations that the deputy procuror general had left Ukraine in order to go on vacation in Spain in the latter part of 2022. No reason was given for Tymoshenko’s departure from the president’s office, though recent reports suggested he had conflicted with his boss.

While corruption allegations have been levelled at Kyiv, the Ukrainian government is trying convince Western governments that it has made substantial progress in fighting corruption. The European Union has tied Ukraine’s potential entry into the European Union to changes in Ukrainian law and its justice system, as well as rooting out corruption and embezzlement from Ukraine’s government.

Ukraine’s corruption problems could also cause problems in its war efforts, as well. Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine has relied heavily on Western governments for significant military and economic assistance.

In the United States of America, Republicans have pledged to increase oversight over Ukraine’s additional aid. Kevin McCarthy (R), House Speaker stated This is it. “blank checks” Should be sent to Ukraine