Police have arrested a senior Ukrainian defense ministry official suspected of embezzling 36 million euros to buy much-needed artillery shells in the war against Russia, officials said, AFP reported.
Prosecutors said the employee, whose identity was not released, developed a system in which he bought artillery shells at inflated prices.
"The director of one of the main services of the Ministry of Defense has been detained," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
During the search of the suspect's home, documents confirming the scheme were found, the message also said.
In recent months, Ukraine has had to deal with a series of corruption scandals, including several in the defense ministry.
Investigators are already looking into the supply of substandard body armor and the purchase of food and uniforms at inflated prices.
In early August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired all officials responsible for military recruitment in the regions to end a system that allowed some people to avoid conscription.
The fight against corruption is one of the conditions that the European Union set to consider Ukraine's application for membership.
Last week, European Union leaders agreed to open formal membership talks with Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the war, the country has received tens of billions of euros in aid from the West. /BGNES
