An anonymous source, claiming to be a high-ranking advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has reportedly acknowledged the extensive prevalence of corruption in Ukraine, describing a situation where officials are “engaging in theft without restraint.”

Speaking to Time magazine, the source asserted that the Ukrainian government’s efforts to combat corruption have proven largely ineffective. These efforts were seen as too little, too late, including the dismissal of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

The anonymous advisor revealed, “People are stealing as if there’s no tomorrow,” emphasizing that officials feel no fear of engaging in corrupt activities. The firing of Reznikov and others took more than six months from the time President Zelensky was informed of corruption within the Defense Ministry.

Another advisor is said to have conveyed that by the time Zelensky took action, it was already too late, and the corruption scandal had not only become known in Western capitals but also among frontline soldiers. Soldiers reportedly began making crude jokes about “Reznikov’s eggs,” referring to accusations that the Defense Ministry had massively overpaid for basic items like eggs and coats for soldiers.

The report highlights claims by officials that Zelensky’s office has made efforts to at least create the appearance of combating corruption. Staff members are allegedly paid a modest $1,000 per month and are required to sleep in cramped bunker rooms. They are given strict directives to “avoid any perception of self-enrichment,” and they are not allowed to buy anything, take vacations, and are expected to focus on their work diligently.

The issue of corruption in Ukraine, a country that Transparency International has ranked as the most corrupt in Europe after Russia, is gaining prominence in Washington, D.C. President Biden’s push for additional American taxpayer funding for Ukraine is being met with increased scrutiny. The Biden administration is seeking an additional $61.4 billion for Ukraine, in addition to the $113 billion already committed, by tying the funding to emergency allocations for Israel and the U.S. border crisis.

Senator J.D. Vance, a leading opponent of further funding for the conflict in Ukraine, expressed his skepticism, stating, “I’ve sat in a lot of briefings where I was promised Ukraine doesn’t have a corruption problem.” He accused the Biden administration of lying and called for no more funding for Ukraine.

The Republican-led Oversight Committee in the House of Representatives has alleged that Ukrainian government officials engaged in bribery, misused government vehicles for personal purposes, and purchased overpriced food supplies for Ukrainian forces.

Even the mainstream media, which had previously supported ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is gradually acknowledging the country’s corruption problem. The New York Times reported that Ukrainian officials admitted that money intended for military contracts did not lead to the procurement of weaponry or ammunition, and some of the funds had disappeared.

In an interview with Time, President Zelensky emphasized his commitment to combating corruption but claimed that the issue was being weaponized to cut off funding. He expressed dissatisfaction with Western backers for providing just enough assistance for survival but not enough weaponry to win the war against Russia.

However, another source argued that Zelensky was deluding himself, stating, “We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that.”

Officials in Kyiv are reportedly beginning to believe that due to heavy casualties over the past year and a half, there may no longer be enough soldiers left to win the war, even if the United States were to provide all the necessary weaponry. One aide remarked, “We don’t have the men to use them.”

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SOURCE

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/10/31/zelensky-advisor-admits-govt-officials-stealing-like-no-tomorrow-as-biden-pushes-for-billions-more-to-ukraine/