Ukraine. Millions of dollars intended for the fight against Covid-19 vanish
(B2) Part of the donations made by Europe, as by the United States, to Ukraine to fight the Covid-19 epidemic has been diverted from its original purpose
Nearly half of the $2,3 billion fund, created in the spring, to fight the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences has not been allocated to drugs or medical equipment, detail Ukrainian researchers on their blog. A fund fed in part (about 20%) directly by European funds. The European Union ($232 million) and Germany ($181 million) are the main international funders.
Instead, $1,2 billion (about €1 billion) has been allocated for road construction under the presidential “Big Construction” program (1), as acknowledged in November by Igor Umansky, the former Minister of Finance and Chief Advisor to the Presidential Office. This money has also benefited a series of companies run by Ukrainian oligarchs (Avtomagistral-South, Avtostrada, Rostdorstroy, Altkom and Techno-stroy-center), but also Turkish companies. Onur et Ozaltine won major contracts ($91 million and $38 million respectively) with Ukravtodor in 2020.
(NGV)
- A program initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian government which aims to build and maintain 6500 km of roads, 137 educational establishments, 116 kindergartens and 122 sports facilities.
