In a significant development, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin, has announced his resignation following a scandal involving draft dodging. The controversy has implicated hundreds of officials, including members of the prosecutor’s office, who are allegedly involved in obtaining fraudulent disability certificates. These certificates enabled them to evade military service, raising serious concerns about integrity within the ranks of public officials.
The scandal, which first came to light earlier this month, is part of a troubling pattern of revelations regarding draft evasion schemes. These schemes have not only hampered Ukraine’s efforts to bolster its military forces but have also eroded public trust at a time when the nation is engaged in an unyielding struggle against intensifying Russian aggression.
In his statement on Tuesday evening, Kostin expressed his decision to step down, taking responsibility for what he characterized as “the obviously immoral situation concerning the issuance of fake disabilities by state officials.” It is important to note that there have been no allegations suggesting Kostin’s personal involvement in this fraudulent activity.
In response to the public outcry surrounding the scandal, President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree mandating the dissolution of all medical commissions responsible for evaluating potential soldiers’ fitness for duty and for issuing disability certificates. This initiative is set to be completed by the end of the year.
“There are countless instances of blatantly unjustified disabilities among officials,” Zelensky stated during his nightly address on Tuesday. “This situation demands urgent and comprehensive action.”
Ukraine continues to face challenges in mobilizing troops to reinforce its military, which finds itself outnumbered by Russian forces. Contributing to this dilemma are corrupt practices where potential conscripts engage in bribery with enlistment officers or medical personnel at recruitment centers to obtain fake documentation that exempts them from military service.
