Conspiracy to Embezzle $40 Million in Ukraine War Funds ‘Tip of the Iceberg,” says U.S. Congressman

Five employees at a Ukrainian arms company have been charged with a conspiracy to embezzle $40 million in funding meant to purchase munitions, reported the NY Post.

The conspiracy, supposedly uncovered by Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, revealed that employees from a Ukrainian arms firm colluded with officials in the defense ministry to divert funds earmarked for purchasing 100,000 mortar shells.

One of the five suspects was apprehended while attempting to leave Ukraine.

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) asked on X whether this is an “isolated incident or the tip of the iceberg”:

$40 million embezzled from funds set aside to buy munitions for Ukraine.

Isolated incident or tip of the iceberg?https://t.co/bA0fHc0pFV

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 29, 2024

U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) replied: “Tip of the iceberg.”

Tip of the iceberg. https://t.co/ms9dIbG4JO

— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) January 29, 2024

The news of this alleged conspiracy comes two weeks after American Greatness reported  that “the Pentagon watchdog determined that American diplomats and officials in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) failed to properly track over $1 billion worth of weapons provided to Ukraine.”

As the Daily Caller reports, the inspector general’s investigation determined that the DOD surveilled nearly 40,000 items that were considered sensitive and vulnerable to smugglers. As of June 2nd, 2023, at least $1.699 billion worth of items had been given to Ukraine by the U.S., with the items qualifying for enhanced end-use monitoring. The DOD failed to produce full inventory reports on 69% of the total value.

Congress has already sent at least $113 billion to Ukraine since the start of its war with Russia in February of 2022. The Biden Administration has requested another $106 billion aid package, with $61 billion of it designated specifically for Ukraine.