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Aug. 11 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken action to address corruption allegations in military recruitment by replacing officials with wounded war veterans.
The National Security and Defense Council convened on Friday to discuss the findings of an investigation into corruption allegations. As a result, combat officers will now undergo scrutiny by Ukraine’s intelligence service, the SBU, in order to hold positions on military commissions.
“The Prosecutor General’s Office, along with the NACP and the SBI [State Bureau of Investigation], has been recommended to take additional measures to combat corruption,” stated the Presidential Office after the meeting.
Last week, President Zelensky denounced corruption following the discovery that Yevhen Borisov, a military official responsible for recruitment in the Odessa administrative region, possessed $5 million in assets in Spain.
It was also revealed that Borisov’s mother owned a residence worth at least $3 million, a Mercedes valued at about $100,000, and other properties.
In response, Zelensky tweeted on Friday, “Corruption in military recruiting will be eliminated. The heads of all regional recruitment centers will be fired and replaced by brave warriors who have lost their health on the frontlines but maintained their dignity.”
The President added, “In total, there are already 112 criminal proceedings against officials of the territorial recruitment centers, with 33 suspects. These abuses have taken place in various regions, including Donetsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Odessa, Kyiv, and Lviv. Some exploited cash while others took cryptocurrency – that’s the only difference.”
Zelensky stated that the Ministry of Defense has also been investigated for overpaying for military clothing, such as summer camouflage and winter coats. For instance, they paid $421,000 for jackets that should have cost around $142,000.
“Our decisions are as follows: We are dismissing all regional ‘military commissars.’ This system should be managed by individuals who understand the reality of war and why cynicism and bribery during war amounts to treason,” declared Zelensky.
Instead, Zelensky believes that the recruitment system should be entrusted to soldiers who have firsthand experience on the frontlines or individuals who cannot physically serve due to injuries but still possess integrity and lack cynicism.
