Slovak officials arrested over €7.4M ammunition fraud tied to Ukraine aid
Millions of euros may have been embezzled from ammunition supplies to Ukraine (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Eight people have been detained in Slovakia in connection with a suspected embezzlement of funds intended for military aid to Ukraine. Among those detained are current employees of the country's Ministry of Defense, according to a statement from the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).
On June 18, prosecutors carried out evidence-gathering activities as part of an investigation into the possible misuse of funds allocated for aid to Ukraine, which began in April 2025. The total damage is estimated at €7.4 million. Of the eight people detained, four are civil servants from Slovakia's Ministry of Defense.
According to the investigation, between February and March 2022, Ministry of Defense officials submitted a request to the European Peace Facility (EPF) to reimburse expenses related to the provision of military aid to Ukraine — specifically the supply of ammunition.
The suspects are believed to have colluded with private companies, purchasing ammunition at inflated prices. The public procurement process was allegedly manipulated, resulting in financial losses.
The investigation is being conducted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in cooperation with Slovakia's Office for Combating Organized Crime of the Presidium of the Police Force. The case was transferred to the EPPO because the suspected misuse of reimbursement funds qualifies as a crime against the financial interests of the European Union.
Slovak politicians targeted over Ukraine aid
Meanwhile, in Slovakia, the government of pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico is pursuing officials who were responsible for providing military aid to Ukraine. On June 18, law enforcement attempted to detain former Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď and several other former defense ministry officials.
Fico, a known Kremlin sympathizer, not only halted military support for Ukraine but has repeatedly threatened to hold members of the previous government accountable for transferring weapons to Kyiv. His administration has called on police to investigate the delivery of MiG-29 fighter jets and S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine.
