Ukrainian anti-corruption probe uncovers crypto-based bribes tied to border-drone contract
Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies are investigating a border-police drone procurement that involved a senior official receiving cryptocurrency payments and laundering the proceeds.
Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies are probing a large-scale corruption scheme surrounding a drone purchase for the State Border Guard Service. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office allege that a senior official accepted cryptocurrency, specifically USDT, as a bribe after a tender in August 2025 was won by a drone manufacturer offering a lower price than a rival. The official is accused of converting the crypto into Ukrainian hryvnia and cash, which was then used to buy a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 registered to his wife.
A raid on the official's residence uncovered one of the crypto wallets used in the scheme. The investigation continues, focusing on illicit benefits and money-laundering offenses under Ukrainian criminal law.
Why it matters
The case highlights how crypto can be used to conceal public-sector corruption and undermines trust in Ukraine's security procurement.
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