Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin has resigned following a corruption scandal involving false disability diagnoses for draft exemptions. Dozens of officials in the Khmelnytskyi region were found to have received disability permits and pensions through fraudulent means. Kostin took responsibility for the scandal, calling it “clearly amoral,” and announced his resignation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree to dismantle the current system of medical and social commissions responsible for registering individuals as disabled by the end of the year. Kostin ordered an investigation into the scandal, revealing that 61 prosecutors in the Khmelnytskyi region had disabilities, with 50 being registered before the war began.
Zelensky acknowledged that corruption extended beyond prosecutors, affecting officials in various government agencies. The Security Services of Ukraine reported that 64 officials were under investigation for illegally issuing disability certificates, with nine already convicted and 4,106 certificates canceled.
The mobilization in Ukraine has been a controversial issue, with a renewed mobilization law signed in April 2024 expanding eligibility for military service. Soldiers have faced challenging conditions on the front lines, including heavy fire and minimal rest due to a lack of reinforcements. Prosecutions for desertion from the Ukrainian army have increased significantly, indicating the strain on the military as they fight against Russia’s invasion.
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