Ukraine spent USD770 million on bogus weapons agreements
(MENAFN)
Ukraine has squandered approximately $770 million on failed arms deals with unreliable suppliers, according to an investigation by the Financial Times published on Friday.
Ukraine has squandered approximately $770 million on failed arms deals with unreliable suppliers, according to an investigation by the Financial Times published on Friday.
The report, based on leaked documents, court records, and official interviews, reveals the chaotic scramble by Kiev to acquire weapons after the outbreak of the conflict with Russia in 2022. In many cases, Ukrainian officials made large advance payments to obscure companies, only for the weapons to never arrive.
One striking example cited by the FT involved a small gun store in Arizona that received €17.1 million (around $19.1 million) upfront as part of a €49 million contract—but failed to deliver the arms. Although Ukraine won an arbitration case, it has yet to recover the funds.
Between $6 billion and $8 billion of Ukraine’s annual budget has reportedly been allocated to arms purchases since 2022. Of that, at least $770 million was lost in deals where brokers took payment and delivered nothing. Some foreign suppliers also charged inflated prices or delivered unusable equipment.
The report highlights corruption within Ukraine’s Defense Ministry as a contributing factor. Investigations into suspected collusion and embezzlement are underway, but progress has been slow, partly due to delayed responses from US and EU authorities to cooperation requests.
Despite the risks, some Ukrainian officials defend using arms brokers, arguing it allows procurement from nations hesitant to be publicly involved in the war. However, the scandals have fueled growing concern among Western backers. Earlier this year, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov fired the head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), criticizing its excessive transparency and claiming it resembled an “Amazon” for weapons shopping.
This internal dispute, according to the Washington Post, has caused unease among Ukraine’s Western allies, who fear it could disrupt critical arms deliveries.
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