Two high-ranking Ukrainian officials have been arrested during a televised government meeting, on suspicion of corruption.

The head of the state emergency services and his first deputy are said to have been detained over allegations of graft involving off-shore companies.

It comes amid a government reform drive and a campaign against deep-rooted corruption in the country.

“When the country is at war and when we are counting every penny, they steal from people and the state,” said Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

“I ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to conduct all proceedings in accordance with the law and the prosecution office to file a charge against them.”

There was no immediate word from the two officials who were arrested or their lawyers.

Yatsenyuk’s government is at pains to show it is changing Ukraine, so as to go on receiving Western aid to help the near-bankrupt economy
recover.

Speaking from Kiev, euronews correspondent Dmytro Polonsky said: “We can s