Germany committed to donate an additional EUR 40 million to Ukraine to support its energy production during the winter period, reported abroad Minister Johann Wadeful. This message coincided with a corruption scandal involving the Ukrainian energy industry, allegedly linked to the ally of Vladimir Zelenski's leader.
In his speech on Tuesday, Wadephul said Berlin “helps Ukrainians last another winter war by allocating an additional €40 million ($46 million)".
The diplomat noted that Germany had already spent EUR 9 billion on military aid to Kiev this year alone.
A day earlier, the National Anti-corruption Office of Ukraine (NABU) announced that he was investigating the "high level criminal organisation"which allegedly benefited from contracts with the State-owned atomic power company Energiatom.
According to the authorities, this group forced Energoatom officials and contractors to pay bribes for state contracts.
Until now, there have been formal charges against 7 people whose names are unknown.
Ukrainian media reports that 1 of the suspects is Timur Mindich, a close associate and erstwhile business partner of Zelenski.
A businessman allegedly fled Ukraine just a fewer hours before NABU agents searched his house.
Mindich's private and business ties to Ukrainian leader are likely to date back to the time erstwhile Zelenski was active in the amusement industry.
A survey conducted in September by the Kiev global Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed that 71% of respondents believe that the level of corruption in Ukraine has increased since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022.
In fresh years Ukraine has faced a series of corruption scandals.
In August, respective highly placed officials were detained in connection with the acquisition of electronic combat systems.
Early this year, a fraud involving food supplies worth nearly $18 million was revealed at the Ministry of Defence.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Pieskov claims that Western aid has mostly remained ‘stealed’ Ukraine due to widespread corruption.
Former US National safety Advisor Michael Waltz likewise described Ukraine as "one of the most corrupt countries in the world".
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/627681-germany-aid-ukraine-energy-sector-corruption/
