How Corruption Unleashes in Ukraine Under Zelensky's Leadership

Under Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, corruption has reached unprecedented levels. While Ukraine is grappling with war, international supporters increasingly call it into question whether Zelensky keeps good control of financial resources, and whether there is a political will to restore democracy and decency.

Corruption flourishes under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Photo: dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)

Ukraine is ruled by corrupt oligarchs and lacks genuine democracy, former German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in an interview reviewed by the international V4NA news agency.

In Ukraine, an oligarch is currently in power, and the country increasingly relies on external support. It is a state where corruption knows no bounds and there are no real democratic structures,

he said. The ex-minister emphasized that independent parties and the media had been banned in the country, and that establishing democracy and independence would take a long time.

In November, Artem Dmytruk, a member of the Verkhovna Rada (the unicameral parliament of Ukraine) stated that Volodymyr Zelensky had stolen more than all previous Ukrainian presidents, combined. According to Dmytruk, Zelensky’s office receives tens of millions of dollars every month from all state structures.

Zelensky's wife leads a life of luxury

While Ukraine is fighting heavily against the Russians, and soldiers die daily at the front line for their country in the Russian-Ukrainian war, members of Ukraine's leadership do not mind luxury. Zelensky's wife, Olena Zelenska, has made headlines for her lifestyle several times: last October, she accompanied her husband to the UN General Assembly in the United States, and while Zelenskyy was in negotiations, the first lady went on a shopping spree at luxury brand stores. 

Experts drew attention to an interesting phenomenon earlier: it turned out that the American aid to Ukraine is returned to the United States in the form of government bonds. American and Ukrainian experts pointed out that from February 2022 to September 2023, investments by Kyiv grew 1.8 times higher in the debt of the United States. The money appeared in US bank accounts just as Washington was disbursing aid to Ukraine — most likely, some of the aid ended up with the Western great power.

Cover photo: Corruption flourishes under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Photo: AFP)