The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced that it has uncovered a possible corruption scheme related to the purchase of 100 French-made Dassault Rafale fighter jets, APA reports, citing the official website of NABU.

According to the information, some officials and high-ranking officers from the Ukrainian and French sides intended to embezzle more than 2 billion euros allocated for the purchase of the aircraft and transfer this amount to offshore accounts.

It is reported that information obtained within the framework of the investigation was allegedly acquired through listening devices installed in the vehicle of Andriy Yermak, the former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. Based on the recordings, Yermak allegedly met several times with Admiral François-Xavier Polderman, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, to discuss the withdrawal of cash from Ukraine and the transfer of funds to offshore accounts. It is noted that Yermak’s driver and interpreter also participated in these meetings.

It is recalled that in November 2025, during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to France, a contract was signed between France and Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron providing for the supply of 100 Rafale fighter jets over the next 10 years. According to the agreement, the total amount to be paid by Ukraine is reported to range between 15 and 30 billion euros.

According to NABU’s investigations, the plan to embezzle funds to be paid under the agreement and transfer them to offshore accounts was developed by high-ranking officials from Ukraine and France. Allegedly, the scheme names Andrey Yermak, Admiral Francois-Xavier Polderman, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces Fabien Mandon, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and other high-ranking officials.

The report also notes that the first tranche of 2 billion euros envisaged under the corruption scheme has already been taken out of Ukraine.