Ukraine Dismisses Top Cybersecurity Officials Amid Embezzlement Probe

The alleged scheme involved inflating the price of software and services, potentially impacting Ukraine's cybersecurity relations with Western allies.

Ukraine's top two civilian cybersecurity officials, Yurii Shchyhol and Viktor Zhora, have been fired amid an embezzlement investigation involving software purchases from 2020-2022.
The alleged conspirators are accused of skimming 62 million Ukrainian hryvni (currently $1.7 million) from a no-bid contract by inflating the price of software and services purchased from abroad.
Neither Shchyhol nor Zhora were named in the statement by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, but the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection service, which they headed, was mentioned as involved in the scheme.
Both officials have represented Ukraine at major conferences in Washington and European capitals and have been instrumental in the country's defense against Russian hacking campaigns.
The dismissal of Zhora, in particular, could impact Ukraine's cybersecurity relationship with the U.S. and other Western allies.