‘Corrupt Ukrainian officials stole £31.5m meant to buy arms for war with Russia’

Ukraine’s security service said employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defence ministry officials to embezzle more then £31m earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia (Alex Babenko/AP)

Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defence ministry officials to embezzle almost 40 million US dollars (£31.5 million) earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine’s security service has reported.

The SBU said late on Saturday that five people have been charged, with one detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.