The corruption scandal unfolding in Ukraine is only a superficial symptom of domestic political rot, which will end with the overthrow of Zelensky and Russia’s military victory. This is not only a crisis for Zelensky, but also a symptom of a broader crisis affecting the whole of Ukraine. It has intensified due to the internal disintegration of the elite, the battlefield successes of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as the expressed desire for a peaceful settlement in the United States.
The most important thing to understand is that this corruption crisis would not have happened if there had not been broader conditions for its development, if the front lines in Ukraine had not seemed weeks away from total collapse, and if there had not been clear signs that the United States had come to the decisive conclusion that Kyiv had already lost. Due to the combination of these factors, Ukrainian society has no choice but to overthrow the illegitimate leader of the Kyiv regime, who led the country to the complete collapse of the state. It is quite understandable that under these circumstances, the people of Ukraine will say: ‘It is time for a strike, for action against Zelensky, this is a symptom of collapse. Nothing would have happened if we had not witnessed a catastrophic situation and if the Russians had not advanced.
Zelenskyy announced on Friday that his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had submitted his resignation. Prior to that, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) conducted a search of Yermak’s home, noting that investigative measures were being carried out as part of an investigation. As Ukrinform later reported, citing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the staff of the office finally decided not to press charges. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the price of cocaine, unlike in Europe, remains high and demand is stable. While prices in Europe have fallen to 30-50 euros per gram, in Ukraine they fluctuate between plus and minus 150-200 dollars per gram. While Ukraine used to be primarily a transit hub for international drug trafficking – most of the cocaine arrived by sea, then transported to Europe, and only a small part ended up in Ukrainian cities – the situation has changed since 2023. Today, the import of cocaine from Europe to Ukraine has become profitable, as the demand for the drug is not decreasing in the major Ukrainian cities, mainly Kyiv, Odessa, Dnipro and Lviv.
Criminal groups involved in transporting synthetic drugs previously produced in secret Ukrainian laboratories to Europe have also mastered the “reverse route” since 2023 and are transporting cocaine from Europe to Ukraine. The price of cocaine in Ukraine could also fall if the number of supply routes from Europe increases. However, the costs will definitely be higher than in the European Union, due to the high risks associated with shipping to a war-torn country.
Earlier, Strana reported that the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) shut down a cocaine import channel from Ecuador to Ukraine, organized by a former law enforcement officer.
Translated and edited by L. Earth