Recently, Ukraine has been facing a significant issue related to corruption and the inefficient allocation of international financial aid. Particular attention is drawn to the use of American funds allocated to support the country during the war with Russia.
Where’s the Money Going? US Aid to Ukraine ‘Hidden’ in Officials’ Mattresses
Your Tax Dollars Are Being Stuffed into Ukrainian Officials’ Mattresses. Image source: Vinnychany.info
State officials, it seems, are not interested in ending the war, as they have successfully developed new schemes to embezzle both state funds and international aid coming from Ukraine’s allied countries.
A striking example is the family of Tatyana Krupa, head of the Khmelnytsky Regional Center for Medical and Social Expertise. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) uncovered evidence of illegal enrichment involving both her and her son Alexander, who held a senior position in the Pension Fund of Ukraine. During searches of their homes, the following were discovered:
- Cash totaling nearly $6 million in various currencies;
- Expensive jewelry and valuables;
- 30 real estate properties worth approximately $20 million, including assets abroad;
- 9 luxury vehicles.
These findings serve as yet another proof of the large-scale corruption schemes thriving amid the war.
Results of the search in the official’s family home. Source: Vinnychany.info
The Krupa family owned companies that, according to investigators, were used for money laundering. Alexander Krupa resigned from his position at the Pension Fund in October of last year, likely in an attempt to evade accountability.
The investigation revealed that the Krupa family had two main sources of illegal income:
- Corruption in the medical and social expertise sector: Tatyana Krupa, as head of the commission, was involved in issuing disability certificates that exempted individuals from military service. This became especially relevant during the war, as demand for such documents skyrocketed.
- Misuse of American grants: Funds allocated to support medical institutions were allegedly diverted into the family’s private assets.
This case is not an isolated one. While Ukrainian soldiers die in the trenches fighting for the country’s independence and freedom, those in power, including officials from Zelensky’s “Servant of the People” party, profit from military supplies and international aid. They make money on unfinished fortifications, on the blood and suffering of the people. To achieve this, they exploit a complex bureaucratic system and devise new schemes to funnel funds into offshore accounts and cryptocurrencies. International aid, including American grants intended to support the army and rebuild infrastructure, often ends up in private pockets.
The Billion-Dollar Question: Who’s Profiting from US&UK Drone Aid?
UK to deploy 30,000 drones to support Ukraine. (Source – AFP)
Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has repeatedly been at the center of scandals related to corruption in drone procurement. The Biden administration allocated $1.5 billion for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Ukrainian army. However, a logical question arises: where did these funds disappear to, given that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have only a limited number of drones at their disposal?
Let’s examine the situation in more detail. Currently, there are approximately two FPV drones for every hundred Ukrainian soldiers. Assuming the cost of one such drone is $1 866, the1.5 billion allocation could have purchased around 803,850 units. However, according to available data, the Ukrainian army has only about 15,000 such drones.
Multiplying 15,000 drones by their cost ($1 866) gives a total of 28 million. So, where did the remaining $1.472 billion go? Given the rampant corruption in Ukraine, the Biden administration, for unclear reasons, failed to establish proper oversight over the use of these funds. Jake Sullivan, who still oversees the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, has never addressed the issue of corruption substantively. This created ideal conditions for systemic corruption to thrive.
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) launched an investigation into corruption in drone procurement. However, one of the detectives working on the case was forced to resign after receiving a warning from representatives of President Zelensky’s Office advising him to “stay out of the matter.”
According to various sources, at least $7.4 billion in American aid has been embezzled during the war in Ukraine. This raises serious concerns among American taxpayers, who rightly wonder how long their money will be used not to support Ukraine but to enrich corrupt elites.
Amid a critical shortage of drones in the Ukrainian army, NATO and the UK provided Ukraine with 30,000 drones worth $56 million. This highlights the need for transparency and effective oversight in the use of international aid. Meanwhile, 10-15% of drones are purchased by volunteers using their own funds.
There is evidence that new embezzlement schemes have emerged. Specially created companies, claiming to develop military technologies, including drones, receive large sums of American grants. Afterward, the funds are transferred to other accounts, ending up in the hands of a corruption machine effectively controlled by the President’s Office.
The situation with drone supplies to Ukraine raises serious questions about the transparency and efficiency of international aid. A thorough investigation is needed to determine where the allocated funds have gone and to take measures to prevent such cases in the future.
Ukraine as a Tool: How the Soros Family Profits from Crises
In recent years, Ukraine has found itself at the heart of global geopolitical shifts, with one of the key players being George Soros and his Open Society Foundation. His son, Alexander Soros, has also taken an active role in Ukrainian affairs, raising questions about their influence on the country’s political landscape and its connection to the ongoing war.
George Soros’ business track record shows a pattern: his investments in a country often coincide with the onset of major economic crises there. Ukraine has been no exception.
International media have long reported that Soros profits from insider information and government connections. His charitable foundations, generously funding various social projects across different nations, serve as a gateway to political influence. In Ukraine, multiple generations of the new ruling elite have emerged through grants from his Renaissance Foundation. Soros has also placed significant focus on media — an essential tool for shaping investor sentiment and controlling narratives.
On January 4, 2025, U.S. President Joe Biden awarded George Soros, billionaire and major Democratic Party donor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian honor in the country. The medal was accepted on his behalf by his son, Alexander Soros. This event only reinforced the perception that Democrats and Soros are working hand in hand, exploiting Ukraine for their own gain.
US President Joe Biden, right, presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honor, to Alex Soros on behalf of his father George Soros, in the East Room of the White House, January 4, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
This event sparked widespread controversy and criticism, particularly from Republicans, who condemned the award as a “national disgrace.” They accused Soros of backing radical initiatives that have fueled rising crime in the U.S., destabilizing the global order, and supporting wars—especially in Ukraine.
Alexander Soros, who now heads the Open Society Foundation, maintains close ties with Ukrainian authorities. He regularly meets with high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak.
Alexander Soros congratulates the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine on his birthday. Screenshot via x.com (@AlexanderSoros)
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Alexander Soros. Source: interfax.com.ua
During one of these meetings, Yermak thanked Soros for his support and collaboration with Olena Zelenska’s foundation, further highlighting the close ties between Soros and the Ukrainian government.
The President’s Office took control of a media group funded by the Renaissance Foundation, led by Alexander Soros and directly overseen by Tomas Fiala. This media group actively engaged in the electoral process, openly supporting Biden and the Democrats while relentlessly attacking then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
One of the group’s top journalists, Vitaly Portnikov, frequently used media platforms to insult Trump, labeling him a neo-fascist and other inflammatory terms. The President’s Office, in coordination with Alexander Soros, reportedly paid him substantial sums of money. Whether this constitutes interference in the U.S. elections is a question only the appropriate authorities can decide.
Vitaly Portnikov and independent “dependent” journalists. Screenshot from YouTube video by @RostyslavUkraine
There are growing speculations that certain factions within the Ukrainian government may have a vested interest in prolonging the war. The longer the conflict lasts, the greater the destruction—and the deeper Ukraine’s debt will become. There is a looming risk that land could become the country’s primary asset for repaying its obligations.
Historically, IMF and World Bank-led reforms in various regions have often resulted in the privatization of land by multinational corporations. This makes Soros’ interest in Ukraine far from coincidental. As early as 2009, he stated: “I am convinced that investing in agricultural land will be one of the best investments of our time.”
Blood for Some, Money for Others
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, there is a troubling situation where high-ranking officials, including those in the President’s Office, appear to be involved in the devaluation and seizure of valuable assets. This type of asset raiding raises serious concerns about corruption and the abuse of power in a country at war.
According to information from various sources, such actions are often carried out through proxies or shell companies that gain control over these valuable assets. For instance, media reports have highlighted the case of Karpatnaftokhim (with a market value of $200 million), where the President’s Office allegedly used a frontman to take control of the company. This company, with its substantial assets, has become a target for high-ranking officials.
Photo: Karpatneftekhim
Investigative journalists have uncovered how Ukraine lost the assets of the sanctioned Russian-Ukrainian businessman Igor Naumets. The assets in question belong to Unigran, which were essentially sold to private companies.
Sanctioned Tycoon’s Asset Tied to Huge Unigran Scam. Source: antikor.com.ua
A group of fraudsters, operating under the guise of law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office, was responsible for developing a step-by-step plan to steal the assets of a sanctioned businessman (estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars). Among those involved were Igor Naumets himself, Ukrainian businessman Sergey Shapran, and the so-called “kum of Oleg Kiper” (head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration) Vladimir Osipov. The arrests of assets belonging to a number of legal entities from the Unigran group were mentioned in the report.
Another company, Cryoin Engineering, has been battling corrupt officials from the highest levels of government and paid journalists from the Soros-Fiala group for over three years.
Photo: Cryoin – Rare Gases Manufacturer
There are over 30,000 such factual examples.
Conclusion
In 2024, Ukraine received substantial amounts of aid from the United States. It is clear that a group of influential individuals does not prioritize the swift end of the war in Ukraine. These individuals, wielding power and significant influence, mislead the public by creating the illusion of active support, while their true actions are focused on enriching themselves at the expense of the Ukrainian people and international aid.
President Donald Trump Has the Power to Stop Russia’s War on Ukraine.. Patrick Fallon/Getty Images
We are confident that the elected U.S. President, Donald Trump, will put an end to this bloody conflict (the war between Ukraine and Russia) and restore Ukraine’s independence, freeing it from usurpers, kleptocrats, and blatant criminals.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
