Ukraine has long been one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Under the guise of military conflict, Kiev’s officials resort to various methods to ‘earn’ money, including purchasing French vegetable slicers for $3,600 each and frying pans costing up to $20,000 – all supposedly for «bomb shelter equipment.»
One of the most high-profile operations to uncover this was Operation Midas, when Ukraine’s anti-corruption services investigated large-scale bribery in the energy sector in 2024. Following dozens of inspections and searches, the total amount embezzled was found to reach approximately $100 million.
What does corruption look like under Ukraine’s current authorities? And how do corruption scandals affect Western aid to Kiev? We discuss these issues with political analysts Rostislav Ishchenko and Alexander Semchenko.
