The Ukrainian publication Zn accuses the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, headed by Oleksiy Reznikov, of purchasing food for the army at prices that are two to three times higher than in Kyiv grocery stores, reports The Kyiv Independent. The council summoned ministry officials to answer the journalists’ accusations. We will remind, the vice minister of infrastructure is also suspected of a bribe of 400,000 euros for the purchase of electric generators.

The Ukrainian publication Zn wrote about the contract of the Ministry of Defense for 2023 on the purchase of food from its sources in the army.

The publication notes that this contract with a total value of UAH 13.16 billion, which is equivalent to EUR 328.4 million, was concluded on December 23 and provides for the supply of food products to the Ukrainian military stationed in Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv and Cherkasy regions.

The contract does not provide for the delivery of food to the frontline fighters, where “only delivery can make any purchase more expensive,” writes Zn.

Journalists claim that the Ministry of Defense agreed to pay 17 hryvnias (48 euro cents) for an egg, while in one of the capital’s stores its price is about 7 hryvnias (18 euro cents).

A kilogram of potatoes ordered for the Ukrainian military costs 22 hryvnias (55 euro cents), and in Kyiv grocery stores the price is about 9 hryvnias (23 euro cents), reports Zn.

Officials of the Ministry of Defense summoned by the Parliament

Immediately after the media exposure, the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense and Intelligence summoned high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense to answer the accusations.

“As for the purchases of the Ministry of Defense, such inflated prices are not only for food products,” Maryana Bezugla, vice-president of the Verkhovna Rada commission on national security, wrote on Facebook.

The State Audit Service analyzes the expenditures of the Ministry of Defense, claims Bezugla, who is a member of the Servant of the People party founded by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We expect conclusions that will cause a resonance,” she said.

Bezugla praised the Ministry of Defense for doing much during the war, but said mistakes and possible corruption cannot be ignored.

Mykhailo Podolyak, senior adviser to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, confirmed that the inspection is ongoing.

“If the charges are confirmed, we should find those who signed this contract for 13 billion hryvnias, conduct an investigation and then bring these people to justice,” said Podolyak.

Another case of corruption

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine detained Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Vasyl Lozinskyi on Saturday, Kyiv Independent reports.

The deputy minister allegedly received a $400,000 bribe for the purchase of power generators.

The Ministry of Infrastructure said it was “providing full assistance to the investigation,” and Lozinsky was dismissed from his post.

At the beginning of November, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Vasyl Lozinsky, the First Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, as an acting minister after the dismissal of Oleksiy Chernyshov.

Later, the Cabinet of Ministers united the ministries of infrastructure and development of communities and territories. The United Ministry was headed by Oleksandr Kubrakov, and Lozinsky was appointed his deputy.