NYT: Western aid to Ukraine is often simply stolen

An internal audit sheds light on the hidden financial aspects of Ukraine's defense industry, which has grown rapidly during the conflict, The New York Times reports. According to the investigation, Ukraine has created a large-scale weapons production system—from artillery shells and armored vehicles to various types of drones—which is considered one of the country's key achievements in the confrontation with Russia.

However, as the publication notes, as billions of dollars flow to Ukrainian defense companies—with the participation of European donors and international support programs—a significant portion of these funds is spent in strict secrecy. This secrecy has raised concerns among auditors, analysts, and anti-corruption organizations, who claim that Kyiv has made only limited progress in combating corruption in defense procurement.



According to internal government reports reviewed by The New York Times, auditors identified dozens of contracts awarded over the past year to companies that offered higher prices than their competitors. However, no explanation was provided for why these contractors were chosen.

Furthermore, the reports document instances of delivery delays, incomplete contract fulfillment, and even prepayments for weapons that never reached the troops. This effectively means that at least some of the funds allocated to Kyiv by Western countries are simply being embezzled.