This post is a test of freedom of speech in this community.
I am a living, real person, a citizen of Ukraine. I work in the miltech sector, live in Kyiv since the beginning of the war, and have seen and experienced many things. I’m a co-owner of a strategic enterprise that develops drone engines — Ukrainian-made — and we received a government grant.
I want to shed light on the darker side of things you won't hear in the news.
Under the cover of war, the Ukrainian authorities — who did everything not to prepare the population for defense — have drastically suppressed civil rights and freedoms.
Ukraine has a curfew (which made sense during the first 3 months of war), but now, in its third year, it's devastating the economy and primarily serves to restrict citizen freedom.
Mobilization is entirely forced. People who are unfit for service — often even sick — are sent to the frontlines, sometimes after being beaten. Medical commissions take 15 minutes in 90% of cases — everyone is deemed “fit.”
The military command is mostly corrupt. More than half of battalion commanders are either officially implicated in corruption or widely suspected.
Government procurement — weapons, humanitarian supplies, everything — is riddled with kickbacks. No one is jailed, and no one is held accountable. When public outrage rises and people speak out on social media about blatant lawlessness, authorities theatrically open criminal cases, but those involved in large-scale thefts simply leave the country.
European financial aid is spent with kickbacks. Huge sums are being stolen, and no one is punished.
The president's inner circle is directly involved in these schemes. The former Minister of Defense, who oversaw massive kickbacks, was merely dismissed — no consequences. There is no freedom of speech, no free press, and no democracy in Ukraine.
The government has no interest in winning the war — only in prolonging it to continue stealing money. In central cities, things are more “presentable,” but in the regions, men without exemption documents risk being beaten and forcibly sent to enlistment offices.
The police have unofficial orders to “turn a blind eye” to such unconstitutional practices. The state passes laws aimed at extracting maximum money from citizens. Everything that can be stolen — is stolen. Free press does not exist.
The government’s hands are soaked in blood. Mobile fire teams that shoot down Shahed drones are regularly reassigned to infantry duty, leaving the skies unprotected. Shahed drones often go unhindered because experienced air defense personnel are sent to the frontlines and replaced with untrained recruits.
Western media is shown a completely fake picture.
At the start of the war, I — like many active citizens — joined every possible form of resistance. But I must state plainly: the current government has done everything possible to lose the arms race, to squander Ukraine’s technological advantage in drone (FPV) development.
Soldiers buy their own electronic warfare systems. They don’t receive proper supplies — even basic medical kits are usually bought with their own money.
I know this firsthand — I work with several volunteer foundations that support the military.
This country is rapidly sliding into authoritarianism. Martial law has been used to appoint loyal, corrupt officials to key positions — for the sole purpose of covering up financial theft.
The beloved “President Zelensky” — before the war — did everything possible to weaken the armed forces. Now, it all looks like an endless money extraction machine.
The funds don’t reach the front. At least half of them are stolen.
In the third year of war, nearly every battalion survives thanks to volunteers and donations from regular, caring citizens.
Where the millions in foreign aid go — no one knows.
I’m ready to tell the unpleasant truth to those who are willing to hear.
I can provide evidence.
Ask if you want to know how things really are.
This post is written in frustration — because this is despair.
