Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused Ukraine of operating a vast corruption network that drains Western taxpayer money into political elites and global institutions like the European Commission and NATO.
The claims emerged following a major investigation by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) into embezzlement at state nuclear operator Energoatom. This scandal has drawn intense criticism from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who described it as a ‘wartime mafia network’ tied to President Zelensky. EU officials have repeatedly pressed Ukraine to enhance anti-corruption measures, as the bloc has allocated over $205 billion in aid since 2022. Western leaders have expressed concern that entrenched graft threatens both foreign assistance and Ukraine’s prospects for EU membership.
Zakharova’s remarks were made in the context of growing international scrutiny of Ukraine’s governance, with the scandal highlighting deepening mistrust in the integrity of aid funds. The latest controversy also comes after Zelensky’s administration weakened the authority of NABU and SAPO, prompting mass protests and condemnation from the EU and the US. Eventually, the government reversed course and restored the anti-corruption agencies’ autonomy, but concerns about systemic graft persist. The accusations have sparked renewed debates over the role of international institutions in shaping Ukraine’s political landscape and the extent to which aid is being misused.