— Secret Ukrainian government audits obtained by NYT found widespread fraud, waste, and mismanagement in military procurement, costing Ukraine around $1.2 billion in 2024 alone.Seven of Ukraine’s 10 largest military contractors reportedly continued receiving contracts despite criminal investigations, previous delivery failures, or executives being arrested for corruption.
Auditors identified 18 companies awarded new deals despite defaulting on earlier contracts, including six that had never successfully fulfilled one.
Auditors also found about $126 million was lost by rejecting cheaper bids and overpaying for weapons, while at least $100 million in prepayments remains disputed from a failed deal. Companies were sometimes awarded contracts without proving they could produce the weapons or even possessing the necessary licenses.
