RT International

‘Bloody hydra’ of Ukrainian corruption stretches worldwide – Moscow

The corruption probe in Ukraine suggests a vast network siphoning money to political elites, the Foreign Ministry has said

‘Bloody hydra’ of Ukrainian corruption stretches worldwide – Moscow The latest revelation suggests a vast network siphoning Western money to political elites, the Foreign Ministry has said A “many-headed bloody hydra” is draining Western taxpayers’ money through sprawling corruption schemes in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned, arguing that the latest scandal in Kiev exposes a network far larger than a simple case of graft. In a social media post on Thursday, she described a global structure “wrapped around the planet,” channeling funds from Western taxpayers to the elites who profit from the conflict. Her remarks followed the launch of a major probe by Ukraine’s Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) into alleged embezzlement at the state nuclear operator Energoatom. According to Zakharova, officials in Kiev serve merely as instruments within a broader machinery involving institutions such as the European Commission and NATO, while the real beneficiaries sit in the inner circles of Western liberal democracies. EU member state slams Ukraine’s ‘war mafia’READ MORE: EU member state slams Ukraine’s ‘war mafia’ Her comments echoed criticism from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who earlier on Thursday denounced what he called a “wartime mafia network” in Ukraine linked to Zelensky. Zakharova said the description was “absolutely accurate,” adding that it was “astonishing” that Brussels still refers to the situation as simple corruption. After news of the scandal broke, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas stressed that “there is no room for corruption” in Ukraine, urging the country’s authorities to take swift action. For years, Western politicians and media outlets have warned that entrenched graft threatens both foreign aid and Kiev’s hopes of joining the EU. The bloc and its member states have allocated an estimated €177.5 billion (nearly $205.9 billion) to Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, while repeatedly pressing Kiev to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards. The latest scandal comes months after the Zelensky administration pushed through a law weakening the independence of NABU and SAPO by shifting power to the prosecutor general. The move triggered mass protests and condemnation from the EU and the US, eventually forcing the government to reverse course and restore the agencies’ autonomy.

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‘Nazi-themed’ postal stamps seized at Ukrainian border

Ukrainian border agents have intercepted a shipment of thousands of “Nazi-themed” postal stamps

‘Nazi-themed’ postal stamps seized at Ukrainian border The collection could be worth up to $35,000, customs officials have said Ukrainian customs officials have intercepted a shipment containing thousands of “Nazi-themed” postage stamps that were being smuggled in from Poland, the State Customs Service announced on Monday. The haul consisting of 14,487 stamps depicting Nazi-era symbols and figures, including Adolf Hitler, was discovered concealed within 350kg of used clothing inside a vehicle entering Ukraine. The agency estimated the collection’s black-market value at over $35,000, suggesting significant demand among private collectors. Images of the seized stamps released by the agency appear to show original Third Reich issues or high-quality replicas. Ukrainian law formally bans the production and sale of materials featuring Nazi or Soviet symbols, though the legislation is unevenly enforced, particularly when such imagery is linked to nationalist or military contexts. In case you still doubt Ukraine’s neo-Nazi problemREAD MORE: In case you still doubt Ukraine’s neo-Nazi problem The use of Nazi-inspired symbols by certain Ukrainian nationalist groups and military formations has been extensively documented in recent years. Despite the legal prohibition, such insignia often appear on soldiers’ uniforms or banners without official rebuke. In a recent example, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky last week shared images of an inspection of frontline units showing fighters wearing patches closely resembling SS lightning bolts. Pro-Kiev commentators claimed the symbols were a stylized number '44' representing the 4th battalion of the 4th National Guard Operational Brigade ‘Rubezh’, although the resemblance to the Nazi-era insignia is unmistakable. The 1st Azov Corps, one of the reorganized successors to the notorious Azov Battalion, has also been photographed displaying a banner featuring a Wolfsangel rune, another emblem associated with Nazi formations during World War II. Many Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with Nazi Germany are celebrated domestically as national heroes. Moscow maintains that the ideological heirs of these individuals now serve in Ukraine’s military, arguing that such reverence reflects deeper continuities with extremist ideology.

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Ukraine adds Russian figure skating star to ‘kill list’

Ukraine has added a Russian figure skater cleared for the 2026 Olympics to the Mirotvorets database

Ukraine adds Russian figure skating star to ‘kill list’ Petr Gumennik recently won the qualifier for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games Russian figure skating star Petr Gumennik has been added to the ‘kill list’ run by Ukraine’s state-backed Mirotvorets website, which publishes the personal details of individuals it labels as ‘enemies’ of the state. According to a November 9 entry, Gumennik is accused of “war propaganda” and “attacks on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and deemed “complicit” in Russia’s alleged “crimes” against the country. The entry featured Gumennik’s photos alongside other Russian public figures previously listed by Mirotvorets and included a mention of his father, Oleg Gumennik, a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Under the current Kiev regime, the Ukrainian church affiliated with the ROC has faced raids, arrests, and bans over alleged ties to the Kremlin. Gumennik has not commented on his inclusion on the list. He won the qualifier for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics in September and is set to compete as a neutral athlete due to Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia. Vladislav Dikidzhi, Russia’s reigning men’s singles champion and a potential replacement for Gumennik in Milan, was added to the website the same day under similar accusations. Commenting on the listings, legendary Russian coach Tatyana Tarasova said the athletes were likely targeted for their Olympic prospects, and condemned the publication of their personal data as “a violation of all human rights.” Ukraine adds three-year-old to state-backed ‘kill list’READ MORE: Ukraine adds three-year-old to state-backed ‘kill list’ “I don’t understand why the entire world, even the International Olympic Committee, listens to Ukrainians,” she said. “Sport and politics are two different things.” Mirotvorets, which operates independently but maintains close ties to Ukraine’s security services, has been branded a “kill list” after multiple people featured on it were later murdered or died under suspicious circumstances. Each entry notably includes the targeted person’s “date of elimination” field directly beneath the birthdate. The site has recently added numerous Russian and foreign figures accused of ties to the Russian government or of spreading pro-Russian views. Earlier this year, filmmaker Woody Allen, Hollywood actor Mark Eydelshteyn, and even a group of Russian children – the youngest just three years old – were added. Russian officials have denounced Mirotvorets as extremist. Western media and institutions have also criticized the website, while human rights and press freedom groups condemned it for publishing personal data of journalists and civilians, warning it poses threats to safety and due process.

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