Kyiv: Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies announced the detention of multiple officials involved in a large-scale corruption scheme related to the procurement of military drones and electronic warfare equipment at inflated prices.

According to Anadolu Agency, the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) reported that four individuals were apprehended in connection with this scheme. The suspects include a lawmaker from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, two local officials, and the head of a National Guard unit.

The statements from NABU and SAP revealed that the scheme involved securing state contracts with supplier enterprises at deliberately inflated prices, with the detained individuals allegedly receiving kickbacks amounting to up to 30% of the contract costs. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized his administration's "zero tolerance for corruption" following a meeting with the heads of NABU and SAP.

Davyd Arakhamia, the parliamentary leader of Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party, announced on Telegram the suspension of lawmaker Oleksiy Kuznetsov's membership in the faction until the investigation concludes. He stated, "We expect a court hearing of this case in due time. Those guilty of corruption crimes must be fairly punished, regardless of their status and position."

Earlier this week, President Zelenskyy signed a bill reinstating the independence of NABU and SAP into law. This move followed protests over a previous version approved by parliament on July 22, which had placed the two major anti-corruption agencies under the oversight of the prosecutor general.