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Tetiana Nikolaienko reports on crucial developments within Ukraine's defense sector, highlighting the newly formed Public Anti-Corruption Council. This team comprises specialists adept in anti-corruption policy and military service, a strategic move to strengthen defense transparency. Additionally, concerns over low-quality supplies due to price dumping by Ministry of Defense suppliers pose risks to military personnel’s welfare. Meanwhile, Croatia's Pavao Vujnovac is identified as enhancing Russia’s Balkan interests. On the political front, Nikolaienko explores how scandals threaten Zelenskyy's reputation, and investigates potential competitors in Ukraine's volatile political arena. With gripping insights, these narratives shape our understanding of Ukraine's defense and political environment.

What is the significance of the new Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defense?

The new Anti-Corruption Council is pivotal for enhancing transparency and battling corruption within Ukraine's Ministry of Defense. Comprising experts in anti-corruption and military affairs, this council's formation aims to rectify systemic issues and enforce accountability in defense procurement and operations. By fostering ethical practices, the council seeks to ensure efficient resource allocation and strengthen trust in defense mechanisms, creating a more robust safeguard against corrupt practices.

Why is low-quality food a concern for the Ukrainian military?

Low-quality food poses a serious concern for the Ukrainian military as it directly affects soldiers' health and operational efficiency. Price dumping by suppliers can lead to substandard provisions being procured, undermining morale and potentially compromising military readiness. Ensuring high-quality nutrition is vital for maintaining the military’s physical and mental well-being, hence addressing this issue is crucial for sustained defense capabilities.

How does Pavao Vujnovac influence Russian interests in Croatia?

Pavao Vujnovac is reportedly advancing Russian interests in Croatia by leveraging his networks and business influence to facilitate Moscow's strategic aims in the Balkans. His activities are seen as part of a broader pattern of Russian engagements designed to extend their geopolitical reach and exert influence over regional developments. Understanding these dynamics is essential for analyzing the geopolitical chessboard in Eastern Europe and its implications for national and regional security.

What potential impacts do scandals have on President Zelenskyy’s political standing?

Scandals can significantly impact President Zelenskyy's political standing by eroding public confidence and decreasing his administration's perceived integrity. As public scrutiny intensifies, the opposition may capitalize on these issues to gain political leverage, while supporters may become disillusioned. Resolving these matters transparently is vital for maintaining public trust and ensuring political stability, especially as elections approach.

Who are the potential competitors for Zelenskyy in the upcoming elections?

Potential competitors for Zelenskyy in the upcoming elections include established political figures and emerging leaders from various opposition factions. These individuals may present alternative visions for Ukraine's future, capitalizing on public dissatisfaction with current leadership. Identifying key competitors involves analyzing political dynamics, public opinion trends, and the influence of external factors on domestic policies amidst ongoing challenges.

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Articles Tetiana Nikolaienko

Tihipko About Serhii Tihipko, Forbes and business role model I suspect that those who have worked as political and economic journalists may have radically different attitudes towards this person. 7 861 24

jackets Textile war over $200 million, one arrest and long list of MoD corruption risks On August 21, 2025, officers of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), with the operational support of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), served notices of suspicion to officials of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and to the director of a supplier company that had delivered substandard ballistic goggles. 2 819 4 Previously in trend: Corruption in MoD

Winter jackets for the AFU In winter without jackets: how change in fabric stopped delivery of 100,000 jackets for AFU The Ukrainian Armed Forces will not receive 50,000 winter jackets in September, and the delivery of another 50,000 in November is also in doubt. The reason for this is a shortage of fabric used for the outer layer of windproof and waterproof jackets. 6 851 25 Previously in trend: Clothing procurement for AFU Sewing winter jackets for AFU

Food procurement in the Armed Forces of Ukraine Everything is up to court: how Hlyniana and Adamovsky got 4 billion contracts to feed army The most scandalous suppliers of food to the Ministry of Defence have not disappeared and continue to take the biggest chunks of the tenders. Companies from the pool of Tetiana Hlyniana and Andrii Adamovskyi have discovered a new way to win the desired tenders. And the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal is helping them a lot. 9 660 12 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement in SLO Procurement of products for the Armed Forces of Ukraine

What Umerov left to Shmyhal Find $6 billion and not kick bucket in fighting over pots: what Umerov left to Shmyhal The attack on the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) diverted attention from another significant event that has remained entirely in the shadows - the replacement of the defence minister. It has been more than three weeks since Denys Shmyhal assumed this post. In that time, he has appointed his deputies and outlined his priorities, making it the right moment to examine the legacy Rustem Umierov left him and the challenges now facing the ministry. 30 720 20 Previously in trend: defense procurement Defense Ministry appointments

multiCam MultiCam VS pixel. Why did fabric change pave way for corruption scandal? Over the past two months, the Ministry of Defense has been facing its second major textile scandal, on which both the timely delivery of military clothing and the multimillion- or even billion-dollar earnings of certain suppliers hinge. 12 106 15 Previously in trend: Clothing procurement for AFU Replacing pixel with multicam

Mindich Who is Tymur Mindich – from Kolomoiskyi’s almost-son-in-law to energy overseer and NABU case figure A figure in the NABU case on embezzlement of state funds, Tymur Mindich is currently in Austria. This was reported on Friday by sources at Censor.NET. This news emerged amid numerous statements by deputies and activists that the potential serving of a notice of suspicion to Mindich is precisely what set off a chain reaction in the form of curbing the powers of SAPO and NABU. 36 079 88

yermak Yermak’s multi-move strategy: NABU and SAPO on SSU detectors and Europe’s lost trust The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which destroyed the autonomy of the NABU and the SAPO, have not only led to the fact that for the second day in a row, crowded protests have been held in various cities of Ukraine (for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war), but have also actually threatened Ukraine’s European integration. 36 669 53 Previously in trend: Abolition of NABU and SAPO independence

Nikolaienko Black days for anti-corruption activists: from SSU raids to destruction of SAPO and NABU independence On Tuesday, the parliament voted on a draft amendment to the Criminal Code of Ukraine that eliminated the independence of NABU and SAPO. The dismantling of the anti-corruption agencies was supported by 263 deputies. 6 736 17 Previously in trend: Pressure on NABU

Svyrydenko Yuliia’s Cabinet of Ministers: Why Stefanishyna is heading to Brussels, while Halushchenko might be transferred to Ministry of Justice On July 16, the Verkhovna Rada is set to appoint Yuliia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s Prime Minister. This marks the end of a year-long saga over the change of the premiership. 6 352 12 Previously in trend: New Cabinet

Reznikov’s jackets Defence indulgences: how persons involved in Reznikov-era scandals might get off scot-free The bill on so-called defense indulgences has not yet been considered, but some figures involved in scandals surrounding the Ministry of Defense procurement are already trying to resolve their legal issues. 5 619 15 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement for AFU

Chernyshov "About discounts and books": how Chernyshov denied his guilt in court Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity Oleksii Chernyshov was issued a preventive measure by the HACC in the form of a UAH 120 million bail. After the ruling, he stated that he did not plan to resign. 10 944 24 Previously in trend: Chernyshov’s case

Chernyshov Between flight and suspicion: how Chernyshov handed over land in exchange for apartments worth 15 million Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov’s departure abroad on the eve of being served with a notice of suspicion became last week’s most-talked-about event. The Prime Minister and the President had to justify his actions. 9 564 18

tymoshenko Portnov’s death and its consequences: impact on courts, Poroshenko’s case and political project in place of OPFL Last week, the former deputy head of President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration, Andrii Portnov, was shot dead in Madrid. The violent joyful reaction of social media to the politician’s death eclipsed for a while the question of why he was killed and what he was doing in the last months of his life. 17 948 64

Umerov Without jackets and underwear: why suppliers have started another war with Ministry of Defence In May 2025, almost 20 tenders of the "State Logistics Operator" for the supply of non-lethal supplies to the army were cancelled. These were mostly textile products, such as jackets, trousers, underpants, bags, and backpacks. 12 160 25 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement in SLO Clothing procurement for AFU

Trump Trump chooses friendship with russia over sanctions. What’s next? US President Donald Trump chooses to be friends with russia rather than stop the war. Another conversation between Trump and Vladimir Putin about Ukraine has ended in nothing. In principle, it could not have ended any other way. 11 450 29

Defence procurement Exemplary fraud: 4 stories about how Ukraine had paid for weapons but received nothing or junk Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has paid about $770 million in advance to foreign suppliers for weapons and ammunition that have never been delivered. 15 507 23 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement for AFU

Defence Procurement Agency NATO’s requirement or their own management: why are DPA and DOT being merged? On Thursday, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), Arsen Zhumadilov, announced the merger of the DPA and the State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT). The announcement came as no surprise, as both had been working on this initiative since the autumn of 2024. 5 076 7

Roshchyna, exchange PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTRE No. 2. Taganrog – place where Viktoriia Roshchyna was killed and thousands of Ukrainians are being tortured Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna was tortured by Russians in pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Taganrog. This is the result of an international investigation involving 13 leading international media outlets. 11 570 25 Previously in trend: Death of Victoria Roshchyna

building High-rises in Kytaiv and cottages near Serpent’s Wall – how land carve-up was masked by "bona fide owners" On Monday, April 7, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Bill No. 12089, which restricts the ability to reclaim unlawfully alienated land. He signed it despite a petition urging him not to do so. 8 998 8

SBI Why MoD supplier is complaining about pressure from SBI and whether it is really overcharging On Sunday, businessman Oleksandr Sokolovskyi said that the State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into his companies, which supply textiles to the Defense Ministry, over allegations of overpricing and transferring funds abroad. According to the businessman, this is how he is being pressured to pay bribes to certain entities. 5 692 3

monitoring To hide loot. How MPs save their wealth under guise of caring about defence The last week was marked by some over-activity of MPs in an attempt to protect their property from the attention of journalists and anti-corruption bodies. 11 276 15

Tsarevych Saving Tsarevych and KDAC: How SBI case could change fate of notorious judges It is unclear how searches involving 20 people in the early morning could change the essence of the case in which Tandyr fatally hit a man. However, this proceeding could ultimately allow a number of notorious judges to retain their positions. 14 358 27 Previously in trend: Judicial reform

weapons, procurement No new contracts: How DPA failed to procure ammunition for 2 months and what it will cost us As of the end of February, the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) had not concluded a single new contract to procure ammunition. This could severely impact the Ukrainian army’s supply chain in the coming months and result in Ukraine having to resort to buying weapons from resellers again. 10 159 26

Trump and Musk Followers of Putin’s narratives: how Musk has sunk to level of Russian soldier Over the past month, Ukrainians have witnessed just how cynical geopolitics can be and how easily black can be made to seem white. Donald Trump became the leader in distorting facts during his first term, but after he called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator and Putin a victim, even the usually loyal New York Post issued an explanation of who the real dictator is. 13 458 47 Previously in trend: Musk’s statements about Ukraine and Zelenskyy

bulletproof vest How DOT purchases Israeli bulletproof vests through shell companies Despite Ukraine entering its fourth year of war, the issue of supplying the military with bulletproof vests remains critical in our country. The problem is that the Ukrainian manufacturer offering the lowest prices cannot fully meet the demand, while others cannot afford to sell below cost. 8 761 10

drone Blocking supply of drones to military units: who is to blame and what has been done It is becoming a bad tradition of the Cabinet of Ministers to adopt resolutions that are detrimental to the supply of the frontline. In 2023, this was the case with Resolution 335, which forgot to mention the word "profit", and after which some defence companies were threatened with criminal proceedings. At the end of 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution 1450, which effectively blocked the procurement of drones and electronic warfare for military units. 7 785 15

Poroshenko Petro Poroshenko: Coal case was initiated by Bakanov, prepared by Naumov, and investigated by Kulinich, who was arrested for treason On February 12, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed sanctions on Petro Poroshenko. The measures against the opposition leader and the European Solidarity faction include asset freezes, a ban on economic activity, and the revocation of titles and awards. 51 975 113

Kolomoiskyi Whether Supreme Court will allow Kolomoiskyi’s company not to return billions to state Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the claim of NPC Ukrenergo, allowing it to recover ₴1.1 billion in financial guarantees from JSC Bank Alliance for electricity supplied to United Energy LLC, a company linked to Ihor Kolomoiskyi’s interests. 5 774 32

Zhumadilov Arsen Zhumadilov: Bezrukova essentially created system that put all pressure on her, since everyone knew that she alone was making key decisions On January 31, Minister Rustem Umierov dismissed Maryna Bezrukova, the head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA). This decision followed nearly six months of behind-the-scenes confrontation, which likely cost Ukraine the timely and efficient delivery of weapons. Then came the open phase of the conflict, with the minister accusing the DPA of procurement failures and information leaks, followed by nearly a week of turmoil involving agency leadership changes through notaries. 50 656 44

Umierov Zhumadilov’s year: significant progress, but with contracts for Peoples’ Deputies relatives firms On Friday, Defense Minister Rustem Umierov announced that Arsen Zhumadilov will now head both the DOT (State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition) and the DPA (Defense Procurement Agency) 9 849 33

безрукова Maryna Bezrukova: We are not tame buyers who are ready to drain budget into billions, just by someone’s verbal order The Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency has extended the contract with Maryna Bezrukova, and later Defense Minister Rustem Umierov announced that he was dismissing Bezrukova. 29 926 35

companies,asset,hlyniana,"grand,company,consult",tetiana Have you seen Hlyniana’s trunk? That’s enough. How Defence Ministry’s food mafia has kept its market Two years have passed since the scandal surrounding the 17 UAH eggs. During this time, the Minister of Defence has changed, the "State Logistics Operator" has been launched, but the "food mafia" continues to supply food to the Ukrainian army. 17 436 39

Umierov and reforms in procurement agencies Year and half of reforms go down drain: why Umierov’s team encroached on independence of agencies One of the key positive changes in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was the launch of two procurement agencies. This initiative emerged during the tenure of Minister Oleksii Reznikov as a response to corruption abuses by MoD officials and was finalized under Minister Rustem Umierov. 13 587 32 Previously in trend: Fighting corruption in Ukraine

Mortar with mines Lobbying cloaked by humanism: how People’s Deputies reduced fines for failing to supply weapons to front lines On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada passed bill 6013, which, in addition to repealing the Commercial Code, included amendments to reduce fines for defense suppliers. 3 283 13

Ponomarov Alongside state treason: whether largest supplier of oils to Ministry of Defense is connected to Ponomarov’s group A few days ago, Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov boasted that the procurement agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the State Logistics Operator, saved UAH 2.26 million when purchasing lubricants for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2025. 10 767 12

Boiko and TikTok Unsinkable Boiko: how did they forget about towers of politician and why does he need TikTok This weekend, the Ukrainian segment of Facebook was exploding with indignation at the statements made by the head of the "Platform for Life and Peace" parliamentary group in the Verkhovna Rada, Yurii Boiko. 9 815 47

Defence Ministry, Nikolaienko How infighting in Ministry of Defence makes financiers laugh at them, but does not remove suspicions of promoting one supplier Two weeks after the Cabinet of Ministers handed over 23 billion to the State Border Guard Service for the purchase of ammunition from a particular company, the Ministry of Defence has finally decided to explain why it did so. Allegedly, so that this money would not simply burn up by the end of the year. Censor.NET investigated whether this is true. 9 231 25

Tetiana Krupa What’s happening with Krupa’s case after 2 months: correspondence with SBI and new episodes about solar stations On 4 October 2024, the SBI exposed Tetiana Krupa, head of the Khmelnytskyi MSEK, and her son, head of the Pension Fund’s regional office, for illegal enrichment. 26 626 25

Syrskyi and Umerov Arms wars and New Year’s gifts: how 23 billion were taken from disobedient Bezrukova and given to border guards The end of 2024 looks like it will be a year full of arms scandals. No sooner had we recovered from the news that the 120th mine had been sent to the frontline that did not explode, which was the fault of journalists, the military, the rain, but not the manufacturer, than another betrayal was delivered. 15 428 27

Umierov From Reznikov’s jackets to Umierov’s poncho: whether Defense Ministry will get rid of unscrupulous suppliers Last summer, the country was rocked by a scandal over Turkish jackets purchased by the Defense Ministry that turned out to be unsuitable for winter wear. 13 945 39

Vadym Stolar Budget issues of Vadym Stolar Last week, the Kyiv District Court made a rather unexpected decision. Not in terms of justice, but because of the defendants involved. The court refused to take the side of the Restin company, which is shadowed by Viktor Medvedchuk and Vadym Stolar, and did not force the Ministry of Culture to give permission to build a Museum of Outstanding Ukrainians in the historic zone. 5 692 2

умєров Insurmountable corruption risks of Ministry of Defense. Why new scandals are only matter of time We can punish someone for a crime, or we can prevent that crime from happening. The first is more attractive from the point of view of spectacle, but in fact, after the hundred and third time, it causes only irritation. And the emotional effect is much lower. But the losses remain. 9 524 21

гринкевич Valuable personnel of Ministry of Defence: Who and how helped Hrynkevychs make billions on army A year ago, the country learned about the Hrynkevych family, which earned millions of dollars on contracts from the Ministry of Defence but never delivered the jackets and shirts. At the time of Hrynkevych’s detention, the biggest question was who had introduced him to the MoD tenders. This question remains unanswered to this day. 34 398 23

костін Pensions scandal: why Prosecutor General had left and issue of salaries and pensions remained The problem of high pensions for prosecutors, which are often received as a result of receiving a second disability group, remains unresolved. 8 366 26

прокурор How prosecutors got their million-dollar pensions without disabilities: another simple secret Disabled prosecutors have become a major scandal this month and have already led to the resignation of Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin. However, the resignation of the Prosecutor General does not solve the problem. Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze how this became possible. Because not only prosecutors and the MSEC may be to blame. 34 522 117

Ніколаєнко Whether military units will be left without electricity, or Why army needs acquisition executive In case you didn’t know, in addition to centralized procurement at the level of two Defense Ministry agencies, the AFU also have procurement at the level of military units. So far, their development has failed, despite the fact that they are a NATO requirement. And the Ministry of Defense’s illiteracy on some issues can lead to the fact that it will be extremely difficult for the military to purchase electricity. 3 764 5

харчування Why Ukrainian military eats disgusting meat, how is it connected to catalog and constant suppliers of Ministry of Defense The Defense Ministry has another scandal with army food. The Lviv-based NGL.media has found that one of the ministry’s laboratories has actually allowed low-quality stew to be supplied to the front. 13 634 52

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