EUR 7.4 million stolen on ammunition for Ukraine: 8 officials detained in Slovakia
19 June 2025 07:27
Slovakia has detained eight people suspected of embezzling 7.4 million euros intended for military aid to Ukraine. This was announced by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) after conducting investigative actions as part of an investigation that began in April 2025, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
on June 18, the prosecutor’s office conducted operational measures to collect evidence in Bratislava. As a result:
- 8 people were detained,
- including 4 civil servants of the Slovak Ministry of Defense.
The investigation concerns violations in public procurement and the overstatement of the cost of ammunition that was to be transferred to Ukraine as part of EU support through the European Peace Fund (EPF).
According to the European Prosecutor’s Office, between February and March 2022, officials of the Slovak Ministry of Defense submitted requests to the European Peace Fund for reimbursement of costs associated with the free supply of ammunition to Ukraine.
Instead, these individuals, according to preliminary data, falsified the public procurement procedure and entered into reasonably suspicious agreements with two private companies, overstating the cost of goods.
The probable losses are estimated at EUR 7.4 million, which is a serious violation of both national and European budget legislation.
Who is conducting the investigation
The investigation is being conducted jointly:
- The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO),
- The Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Slovak Police Presidium (Úrad boja proti organizovanej kriminalite Prezídia Policajného zboru).
It should be noted that since the beginning of the full-scale war, Slovakia has been actively supporting Ukraine with military supplies. At the same time, the European Peace Fund, established by the EU, reimbursed member states for the costs of weapons and ammunition transferred to Ukraine. It is in this program that serious irregularities have been revealed, casting a shadow over the transparency of aid to Ukraine and causing concern in the European Union.
