Martyna Bohuslavets, Director of the Mezha Anti-Corruption Center, stated that aid meant for Ukraine is being diverted to fake companies.

Concerns have been expressed by Martyna Bohuslavets, Director of the Mezha Anti-Corruption Center, regarding the embezzlement of money in Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia. Millions of money were “transferred to Kharkiv OVA to front companies of avatars,” according to a revelation by Bohuslavets in Pravda.

According to Bohuslavets, funds meant for building military defenses were diverted to the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration (Kharkiv OVA). Kharkiv OVA then used the funds to fund fictitious businesses. This problem has gained attention concurrently with Russian military incursions into Ukraine’s north.

The lack of planned defenses, which would have cost 7 billion hryvnias (~$176.5) now that Russia’s attack is targeting towns and villages, is becoming increasingly obvious.

Concerns are raised by a BBC story that quotes Denys Yaroslavskyi, a regional commander for Ukraine in Kharkiv, bemoaning a grave “betrayal” in relation to the first line of defense that has vanished. According to him, the expected minefields never materialized, which allowed the Russians to enter with ease. Such carelessness, or corruption as he called it, has resulted in needless deaths. “It was either a corrupt or careless behavior. It was not unsuccessful. It was a betrayal, according to Yaroslavskyi.

The US may start to doubt the usefulness of continuing to fund Ukraine in light of the corruption. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) voiced concerns in a March study over the inadequate oversight of funding destined for Ukraine. It brought to light the shortcomings of the Pentagon in monitoring the supply of defense supplies to Ukraine.

This won’t just be for the US. As reported by GreatGameIndia last year, Anna Brylka, a candidate for the Polish Sejm from the right-wing Confederation Coalition, stated that Poland should send a war aid invoice to Ukraine, asserting, “Gratitude is no currency in international relations.”