Audit reveals $240m for fortifications left unused in 2024
New fortifications construction in Donetsk Oblast, December 2025 (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)
Systemic flaws — including fragmented planning and weak internal control — plague critical infrastructure protection and fortification construction, Accounting Chamber Chair Olha Pishchanska said on Feb. 16.
She highlighted these issues at a meeting on corruption risks initiated by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).
"I presented colleagues with separate conclusions of our audits for recent years," Pishchanska reported on Facebook.
Fortification Failures
In the fortification sector, the audit revealed:
Inconsistent regulatory frameworks and unstable management structures
Planning flaws leading to chaotic work organization and procurement
Risk of inflating resource and service costs by over 135m UAH ($3.3m);
Non-use of approximately 10bn UAH ($240m) in allocated budget funds in 2024.
"Recommendations for this audit are being implemented, and some flaws were eliminated even during it was conducted," Pishchanska noted.
Energy Sector Gaps
Regarding critical energy infrastructure, the audit found significant gaps in the initial approach to the experimental protection project.
"Participants' organizational capacity and management mechanisms were not taken into account," Pishchanska explained.
"So far, recommendations implementation remains at a low level, mostly due to the need for new regulatory frameworks."
She emphasized that even experimental projects require clear internal rules and liability models.
Accounting Chamber earlier reported that over half of Armed Forces soldiers are forced to buy gear at their own expense.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
