Zelensky red-faced as ex-Ukrainian PM alleges $100 billion in foreign aid lost to corruption | Kyiv

Ukraine’s government has faced intense scrutiny and new scandals over allegations of large-scale misuse of foreign aid, most recently with former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov claiming up to $100 billion may have been stolen since 2022. Western institutions estimate that between 15% and 30% of aid money could be lost to corruption, with anti-graft agencies frequently uncovering kickback schemes and inflated military contracts, especially in the energy and defense sectors. The European Union recently suspended parts of its aid package to Ukraine over weakened anti-corruption measures, and several high-level officials close to President Zelensky have resigned or been sacked following raids and investigations into alleged embezzlement and procurement fraud in 2025.