Ukraine's Defense Ministry responds to claims it buys army rations at inflated prices

This is reported in the official statement of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on Telegram.

The ministry noted that information on procurement of catering services, which has become widespread in the public space, “is disseminated with signs of deliberate manipulation and misleading.”

“Yesterday, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov personally appealed to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Oleksandr Zavitnevych with a request to immediately hold a meeting of the committee and hear comprehensive information on the procedure, circumstances and results of the procurement of catering services for military personnel for 2023 with the participation of representatives of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the State Bureau of Investigation,” the Defense Ministry said.

They added that the Defense Ministry is preparing materials for Ukraine's Security Service to investigate “the dissemination of false information in advance that harms the interests of defense in a special period.”

The Ministry of Defense also assured that it professes the principle of zero tolerance for corruption.

“Regarding episodes that gain publicity, regardless of the content and nature of the information provided, an internal investigation is conducted. The process and results of catering services procurement will also be subject to an internal review. If violations are found in the activities of the Ministry of Defense officials, they will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” the Ministry of Defense promised.

They added that more detailed information on this matter will be made public following the relevant committee meeting, tentatively on Monday, January 23.

• On January 21, the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) newspaper published information that the Ministry of Defense buys food for the military at prices significantly higher than those in Kyiv retail chains, citing the defense ministry's food procurement agreement.

• After that, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence summoned the Defense Ministry leadership to a meeting.