EPPO: Eight People Detained in Investigation of Possible Ukraine Aid Swindle

Bratislava/Luxembourg, 18 June (TASR) - The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Bratislava has confirmed that raids took place on Wednesday to secure evidence as part of an investigation into the suspected misuse of funds intended for military aid to Ukraine with estimated damages of €7.4 million, TASR was told by the European Public Prosecutor's Office on the same day. Eight people were detained, including four civil servants from the Defence Ministry. "The suspects are alleged to have deliberately breached their obligations as well as the budgetary rules of public administration by wrongfully placing orders for the purchase of ammunition from two private companies. The EPPO suspects that the procurement process may have been manipulated and that the ammunition may have been overpriced," said the prosecution service. In April 2025, the EPPO launched an investigation into senior officials of the Defence Ministry over allegations of the misuse of funds intended for military aid to Ukraine. Between February and March 2022, ministry officials reportedly submitted requests to the European Peace Facility (EPF) for reimbursement of expenditures for donations of ammunition to Ukraine. The investigation is being carried out in cooperation with the Slovak Office for the Fight against Organised Crime of the Police Corps Presidium. The EPPO is the European Union's independent public prosecutor's office, responsible for investigating, prosecuting and handing down convictions for crimes against the EU's financial interests. am/df