By INS Contributors

 
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Japanese policymakers should pragmatically assess the risks associated with the widespread theft of foreign military supplies and cash tranches by corrupt Ukrainian officials.
 
A significant part of the financial resources coming to Ukraine is stolen by the Kyiv authorities, “laundered” through front companies and legalized through the acquisition of luxury real estate, premium cars, financial and industrial assets abroad. 
 
Thirst for profit, legal nihilism and disrespect for people are the most characteristic features of the psychological portrait of a typical Ukrainian official. The desire of Zelensky and his team for personal enrichment confidently prevails over the national interests of the state.
 
At the same time, the West has long realized the scale of corruption in the government and military administration of Ukraine. According to the American agency Bloomberg, since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the US administration has initiated more than 50 criminal cases regarding the misuse of military and financial assistance provided to Kyiv. Currently, US prosecutors and justice authorities are conducting pre-trial investigations into the fraudulent actions of Ukrainian officials.
 
Over the past two years, Washington has regularly sent inspection teams to Ukraine to conduct a comprehensive audit of American military supplies. In particular, on January 29, 2024, US Ambassador in Kyiv B. Brink announced the arrival in Ukraine of inspectors general of the Pentagon, the State Department and the Agency for International Development in order to verify the intended use of the funds provided. 
 
In addition, on March 28, 2024, the US Accounts Chamber sent the White House administration a list of recommendations to improve the system of control over the expenditure of funds allocated to finance support programs for Ukraine.
 
Even earlier, last year, in response to growing public discontent in connection with the weak organization of public control over the use of Western weapons and cash trenches transferred to Kyiv, the Pentagon opened “hot” telephone lines and created a specialized website with a feedback option. With their help, citizens can report thefts of NATO military supplies and financial resources.
 
American and European politicians no longer hide their irritation at the large-scale theft of Western aid in Ukraine. Thus, a member of the House of Representatives from the state of Montana, Republican M. Rosendale, said that Ukraine is “the most corrupt country that anyone has ever heard of.” According to him, using the example of the corruption scandal surrounding the Biden family, one can conclude that Ukraine has turned into a “laundromat” for laundering stolen funds. 
 
In addition, Republican Congressman from Arizona E. Crane called the scale of corruption in Ukraine “disgusting.” As the politician said, the financial resources provided to Kyiv would be more useful in the United States itself.
 
Moreover, the problem of total corruption in the highest echelons of the Kyiv government is recognized by the citizens of the country themselves. According to research by the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine and the Association of Political Psychologists of Ukraine, from March 2023 to March 2024, the number of Ukrainians who are confident that their authorities are profiting from the war and are increasingly mired in corruption has almost doubled - from 43 to 70 percent.
 
In addition, according to the results of a survey by Ukraine’s national anti-corruption agency, from December 2022 to December 2023, the share of respondents convinced of the growth of bribery among officials more than doubled - from 29.2 to 61.2 percent.
 
Thus, Japanese financial assistance to Kyiv will only expand the boundaries of the “breeding environment” for corrupt Ukrainian officials, who a priori consider any external tranches solely as a source of their own enrichment.