In a shocking move, Ukraine has detained its army’s chief psychiatrist for alleged “illegal enrichment” charges related to earnings of more than $1m (£813,000) he has illicitly accumulated since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Oleh Druz was previously identified as the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ chief psychiatrist. In a statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the chief psychiatrist sat on a commission deciding the mental fitness of individuals for military service.
After raids, the SBU found that the chief psychiatrist owned three apartments in or near Kyiv, one in Odesa, two plots of land and several BMW luxury cars, and investigators searching his home also found $152,000 (£124,000) and €34,000 in cash.
Druz, the man believed to be in question, has been previously implicated in a similar case in 2017 when failed to declare two SUVs and several properties—a revelation that led to him being suspended.
Though the SBU has not currently charged Druz with accepting bribes, local media reports suggest that the psychiatrist may have accepted money in exchange for helping draft dodgers avoid military service. Druz now faces up to ten years in prison if convicted.
Corruption in Ukraine
The corruption case comes at a time when Ukraine is facing increasing pressure on the front lines, as many of the soldiers who volunteered early in the war are either dead, injured, or exhausted. The country has introduced various measures to maintain a steady flow of new recruits, including lowering the minimum enlistment age from 27 to 25, which is now being seriously considered.
The arrest of Druz is not an isolated incident. Last year, Yurii Nikolov, a Ukrainian journalist, highlighted previous corruption charges against Druz in 2017, which resulted in an acquittal after an investigation that Nikolov described as substandard. The case underscores the ongoing frustrations with Ukraine’s efforts to combat corruption, particularly in the military and government sectors.
Despite public attempts to tackle corruption through high salaries, public condemnation, and even arrests, many Ukrainians remain skeptical about the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. A recent opinion poll revealed that over half of respondents believe the country’s anti-corruption agencies are the main contributors to the issue, with a significant portion blaming President Zelensky for the persistence of corruption.
Ukraine has been given billions of dollars of aid from all over the world and primarily from the United States. The Republicans and Presisent of the USA Donald Trump have long held the view that the aid is a huge drain on the country’s finances in a pointless war. Upon his reelection Trump has extended a peace proposal to try and end the long drawn conflict. Trump has also ended all aid to Ukraine in an attempt to fan down the battle fronts opened by Kiev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also responded positively to the overtures from the Trump team. He has called Trump a smart and pragmatic man and has asserted that he remains keen on finding common ground that adresses the concerns of Moscow.
With so much corruption rife and now the USA and other allies reluctant to keep funding the clash, it seems many figures will be held accountable of the huge funds that has changed hands and how the entire ‘aid’ has been handled by Zelensky and co.
