(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he will not tolerate corruption or treason in state affairs as his country struggles to find ways to defend itself against Russian invaders.
Zelenskiy made anti-corruption appeals in his evening video address as two landmark cases came to light: the arrest of a military recruitment officer on charges of mass embezzlement and a parliamentarian accused of collaborating with Russia.
Last month, the president announced plans to audit military enlistment offices to try to root out corruption.
The move is part of a longstanding policy to clean up the military and government departments to show Ukraine’s Western backers that he is serious about tackling deep-rooted corruption, measures that are a key element in the long process of securing membership of the European Union.
Ordinary Ukrainians, who support the war effort, were furious about the corrupt practices, Zelenskiy said.
“Let me warn all members of Parliament, officials and everyone who works as a civil servant,” he said.
“When you spend days looking for weapons for the country, when everyone’s attention is focused on the existence of artillery, missiles and drones, you feel the moral strength that our soldiers have given Ukraine.”
“No one will forgive members of Parliament, judges, military officers or any other officials for standing in opposition to the state,” he added.