Ukraine deputy PM named a suspect for graft

24/6/2025 6:10

Ukraine's anti-corruption

authorities suspect a sitting deputy prime minister of receiving

a $345,000 kickback, they said on Monday, the latest

investigation into a high-level Ukrainian official over graft.



Kyiv has stepped up its efforts to crack down on

corruption as it seeks membership in the European Union while

also fending off Russian forces in the more than three-year-old

war.



Officials did not name the minister, one of five deputy

prime ministers, who they suspect of abusing power by approving

the development of state-owned land in a scheme that would have

led to a loss for the state of around $24 million.



The alleged crime took place while the suspect was

serving as a minister of regional development, according to the

National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).



The plan, which allegedly involved five other suspects,

was halted when anti-graft officials obtained a court-ordered

seizure of the land, NABU said.



The EU has made fighting corruption a top prerequisite

for Ukraine to join the 27-member bloc, which Kyiv sees as

critical to cementing its pro-Western course.



The deputy minister is among the highest-ranking

officials targeted by anti-corruption authorities.

Investigations have also focused on lawmakers and a former

deputy head of the presidential administration.