Investigation: How Commercial Goods Enter Ukraine Disguised As Humanitarian Aid

Since the 90s, humanitarian aid has been sent to Ukraine by charities from around the world. Since the start of the war in 2014, the volume has increased. Hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid have been brought into the country. Some of it is the real humanitarian aid, but much is not. Some examples listed by Hromadske look like they fit a comedy more than real life: for example,  Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the biggest and richest monasteries in Ukraine, has received tractors worth 500,000€.  And a Jewish community center has shipped salami, pastrami, pickled tongues and steak from Israel. The article goes on, listing fake charity funds and numerous shell companies that are involved in ingenious smuggling schemes. 

This kind of smuggling is only possible because of the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy's involvment. One of the volunteers interviewed by Hromadske said that her organisation faced obstruction from the ministry after refusing to join an association they ministry was creating. According to her, after the refusal, the organisation's shipments started being stopped at the bordsers, and at least one medical convyo did not reach the warzone in time. Corruption like this is not unusual for war-torn countries like Ukraine, with the economy being week and government offices understuffed.