Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's regional army chiefs have been purchasing premium high-end cars and opulent properties while their troops die in the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war.
This bombshell information came from a former advisor to the Ukrainian Parliament. Meanwhile, according to the current Advisor to the Member of Parliament Mykola Volkivskyi, Zelensky has already launched a blanket firing of Kyiv's regional military recruitment chiefs on August 11.
The allegations were confirmed by a review of the recruitment centers, revealing authority abuses including illegal enrichment to help eligible military-age men flee the country to avoid military service and allowing people to avoid the military draft on medical grounds. A lot of Ukrainian men would rather escape the war and it was hard for them to leave because men aged 18 to 60 have been banned from leaving the country ever since martial law was introduced in February 2022. Exemptions exist for medical reasons, studying abroad, being a single father, having more than three children, or caring for a disabled person.
Volkivskyi, who was an advisor to the chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament's Commission between 2014 and 2021, told Daily Express U.S., the move was widely "expected." "The most outrageous thing was that certain military commissars began to enrich themselves and buy new real estate abroad, particularly in Spain, and expensive luxury cars from the beginning of the war. It outraged Ukrainian society," he said and added that this all occurred while "Ukrainian soldiers were dying at the front" and that there were "constant problems" with many officials.
The news outlet also reported that Zelensky, via his top general Valery Zaluzhny, plans to implement a system where wounded soldiers, who were no longer combat effective, would instead run the regional military recruitment centers, according to Volkivskyi. The MP advisor also said that the idea began to spread among Ukrainians that it would be good to send physically healthy military commissariat employees to the front line and that their positions should be filled by wounded soldiers who were physically unable to return to the army but could still carry out their professional duties in the military commissariat. He added the change should help "overcome any corruption risks" associated with the job of deciding who serves in Ukraine's Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, Zelensky was reportedly unhappy with the revealed corruption in his military and released a statement: "This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery during the war is treason." Earlier this year, nine top officials were fired after they were accused of taking bribes and vacationing in Spain and France during wartime.
The European Union praised Zelensky's reforms in the country. However, the supranational political and economic union pointed out that anti-corruption measures were not being carried out fast enough.
Zelensky insists Ukrainians not fighting on the front line should also help win the war instead of enjoying themselves in bars and clubs
A Hindustan Times YouTube video featured Zelensky criticizing his people who are having fun and partying amid the dragging war with Russia. According to him, defeating Russia in the war should be a 'common cause' and everyone should be fighting and working for victory.
The Ukrainian president also urged citizens living in the rear areas to provide very specific help to Ukrainian soldiers as all the forces in the country must now be engaged in battles for the sake of the state's survival.
"Warriors from the front line who come to the rear cities deserve to see and feel that these are rear cities. That people live there, remembering that there are warriors there, that our warriors here in Donetsk and other directions are fighting for Ukraine, giving their lives for Ukraine. Freedom and independence are not gained by someone there... at the front," Zelensky claimed.
"Everyone is at war. Ukraine is at war. And those who are not fighting on the front line must help fight. Not in bars, not in clubs, not by street racing or some kind of ostentatious consumption, but by helping the warriors in a very specific way. To say the least of it," he urged his people. "For the sake of Ukraine is the key principle. For the sake of something else or for the sake of ourselves will be later, when we win. And now it is defense. Now it is war."