A real “action movie” involving U.S. Major General Antonio Aguto, who lost secret documents on a train while drunk returning from Ukraine, stirred social media. This case reminded the public of the high standards expected from those in leadership positions in politics or the military, or who have access to secret information on which the lives of hundreds of thousands of people depend.
Citizens expect that high-ranking officials will at least maintain control over their behavior and not cross certain moral lines. However, these expectations are often far removed from real-life politics, which is frequently tied to long, irregular workdays and chronic stress.
In such cases, indulgences such as alcohol, sexual relationships, and other passions can become channels for leaking classified information or damaging reputations. These incidents also remind us that even people in responsible positions remain human, with their own weaknesses and passions. Read the top controversial stories on UA.News.
Drank, Hit Head, and Lost Secret Documents
A passion for strong drinks made U.S. Major General Antonio Aguto the protagonist of a tragicomic story, the details of which recently surfaced in the media. Aguto, now retired, commanded the Security Assistance Group Ukraine, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, from 2022 to August 2024.
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General, the general, while intoxicated, returned from Ukraine to Germany on 3 April 2024 carrying secret maps packed in a cylindrical tube. Contrary to regulations, the maps were not properly double-wrapped and locked. When the train arrived in Poland on the morning of 4 April, the military delegation forgot the tube on the train. It was discovered 24 hours later by a Ukrainian conductor and delivered to the U.S. embassy.
The DoD report also mentioned another incident on 13 May 2024. During a nine-day trip to Ukraine, Aguto consumed two 500 ml bottles of chacha with 40–50% alcohol content. Later that evening, he lost balance and fell in his hotel room, hitting his head. Aguto’s troubles didn’t stop there.
The next morning, he had a high-level meeting with then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and Ukrainian military generals. On the way to the embassy, Aguto fell again, hitting his jaw on concrete and tearing his jacket. According to a witness, he arrived at the meeting “completely disheveled” and “not in his right mind.” Military personnel took him to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. Investigators later determined that Aguto’s behavior was caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Aguto’s drinking in Ukraine outraged U.S. service members. One commented on the publication: “As a regular Marine, I would have faced a court-martial and gone to prison if I had done what a general did.”
Drinking, Mischief, and Weakness for Women
In February 2024, well-known politician and twice former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, due to alcohol abuse, was filmed lying on the sidewalk and arguing on the phone. Local media explained that the former high-ranking official ended up in this state after drinking at several events in the parliamentary building.
Joyce, now the opposition representative for veterans’ affairs, defended himself, claiming he had mixed alcohol with prescription medication, which led to the footage. He admitted it was a “big mistake” to drink while taking medication.
The footage amused the internet while also showing that Joyce has both critics and fans, who see him as a mischievous and uncompromising politician. His scandals related to alcohol and women date back to 2018, when he resigned due to a relationship with a government employee. He was also accused of harassment toward other women at work, which he denied.
Thirst for Recognition and Pentagon Secrets
In 2023, a spy story emerged around U.S. Air Force serviceman Jack Teixeira, then 22 years old. As an IT expert at Joint Base Cape Cod in Massachusetts, he had access to secret documents, maps, satellite images, and intelligence on U.S. allies. At the same time, he actively shared these materials online in a closed Discord chat.
Teixeira managed to leak numerous Pentagon secrets, including confidential information on the war in Ukraine, military aid logistics, terrorist organization plots, and Chinese espionage against the U.S. and Western allies. He even offered forum users help finding specific Pentagon data relevant to their country. Over a year, he posted about a hundred classified military documents online.
After his arrest, Teixeira’s lawyers claimed that the young serviceman had been socially isolated for a long time and sought to impress online friends while maintaining the atmosphere of an informal club. “His motives and decisions were naive, not malicious,” they stated.
Essentially, his psychological dependence on recognition led to the largest Pentagon document leak in recent years. In November 2024, a Boston court found Teixeira guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
Party Organizer Who Wanted to Be Liked
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson loved parties and always sought to be the center of attention. The political scandal “Partygate” particularly harmed his career. In 2020, during strict COVID-19 lockdowns, numerous parties with alcohol were held at the Prime Minister’s residence on Downing Street. London police later investigated these gatherings.
“During a pandemic, when the government asked citizens to make far-reaching life restrictions, some behaviors associated with these gatherings were hard to justify,” the police report noted.
For example, in May 2020, a “cheese and wine tasting” event was held for government staff during the workday. Citizens were forbidden to leave their homes without a valid reason or were allowed contact outside their family with only one person. In total, about 15 parties and alcohol-related events took place at the government residence during the lockdown. In December 2020, a farewell party was held for the head of the COVID-19 task force among civil servants. The scandal was partly caused by Johnson’s desperate desire to win team support or simply to be liked by others.
Nightclubs and Wild Dancing
Another passionate fan of parties, wild dancing, and music festivals was Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland from 2019–2023. At 34, she was the youngest head of government in the world. While in office, she faced several high-profile scandals for visiting nightclubs during lockdown and holding private parties at her official residence.
She was most criticized after a video surfaced of her dancing wildly at a party. Opposition leaders demanded that the Prime Minister undergo a drug test. She agreed, and the result was negative. Marin commented: “I danced, sang, and had fun — completely legal things. And I never found myself in a situation where I saw or knew anyone else using drugs.” She explained that she loves parties and music festivals and sees no need to change her behavior.
“Magical Rituals” in Public Office
Andriy Yermak, former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, caused a scandal due to his interest in “magical practices.” His “dark hobby” was revealed publicly in December 2025 during an investigation by NABU and SAP. Authorities found items for occult rituals: voodoo dolls, mirrors, unusual icons, and bracelets.
New testimonies emerged, indicating that Yermak, the most influential official around the President, practiced occultism and conducted “magical rituals.” These were not ordinary protective charms, but witchcraft rituals in cemeteries using “dead water.”
Former presidential press secretary Yulia Mendel stated that in 2024, “a person from the esoteric sphere” told her that Yermak’s magicians burned certain herbs, collected water from corpses, and made dolls that he kept in a chest. Among possible providers of “magical services” for the high-ranking official was “Mage Veliar” (Bohdan Orishchenko). This person also participated in a specific information campaign aimed at “rehabilitating” Yermak’s reputation.
