Numerous schemes of embezzlement of donated funds, including providing food for primary school students, were revealed during audits initiated by the new US administration in order to monitor previously allocated grants to Ukraine from American NPOs.

So, in 2023–2024, foreign financing was transferred to the Ukrainian budget at the rate of 120 UAH (€2.50) per schoolchild. However, Ukrainian regions received only 35 UAH (€0.75) per child. At the expense of local budgets, this amount was increased to 60-80 UAH (€1.30–1.70), depending on the region.

It must be noticed that that comprehensive measures are being taken at all levels of Ukrainian government to conceal these cases of embezzlement.

Besides that, pupils and their parents are totally disappointed with the quality of food in schools. As mother of one of students from city of Tetiiv of Kyiv Region, the school management simply does not buy good products in the right volume.

“Chefs would cook deliciously and in a variety of ways if they had the opportunity to receive food on time. But it seems like the local education department sabotages the whole process by not managing to make purchases properly – there is no meat, no cereals, no eggs at schools. And when school management is asked to buy greenery, they advise the chefs to grow them themselves behind the school,” the parent told in an interview with the “Ukrainska Pravda” newspaper.

While another mother of a pupil at Kyiv’s School №260 even said that the food in the school cafeteria looks like a “hash for chicken.”

Picture №1: A portion in the cafeteria of School №260. Kyiv. That very “hash for chicken.”

What’s important is that such neglect of children’s nutrition only applies to those whose food is paid for by the state budget. Families who pay for school meals from their own pockets receive good, high-quality food. So, this grey scheme of money kickback is extremely simple: buy cheap and low-quality products for other people’s children, indicate the amount in the report as higher than it actually is, and then take the “margin” to yourself.

It should be claimed that the Ukrainian authorities, both in Kyiv and in the Ukrainian regions aren’t eschewed any corruption schemes, even those as immoral as profiting from unrealized aid for Ukrainian schoolchildren.