Ukraine’s Parallel Battle

Welcome to IWPR’s Frontline Update, your go-to source to hear from journalists and local voices at the front lines of conflict.

 THE BIG PICTURE  

As Ukraine continues to resist Russia’s full-scale invasion, independent journalists and civil society organisations also defy wartime conditions to probe corruption and demand accountability.

Investigations by IWPR-supported media and watchdog groups have already helped secure public savings of UAH 6.7 billion (152 million US dollars) through exposing corrupt dealings and spurring legal action.

 VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE 

“In the context of the full-scale war, corruption risks have increased, ranging from defence procurement to the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure,” explained Oleksandra Hubytska, co-founder of Lviv’s NGL.media. 

Every resource lost to corruption is one unavailable for defence, recovery or public services.

Iryna Shpakovska, from the Bihus.info outlet, noted that Ukraine had spent years painstakingly building transparency processes. The conflict could not be allowed to derail this.

“Investigative journalism continues to play a critical role in ensuring these mechanisms function not only formally, but also in practice,” she said.

In fact, monitoring public spending has become a critical part of Ukraine’s democratic resilience.

“We maintain oversight of local government activities across the region by reporting on the work of local authorities,” Yeliena Shchepak, director of the Cherkasy-based media 18000, told IWPR, stressing that this made decision-making more accountable and accessible.

Martyna Bohuslavets, who heads the Kyiv-based MEZHA, said that their work had resulted in criminal proceedings initiated by bodies including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the police.

“In turn, these actions have helped prevent new corruption schemes amounting to tens of millions of hryvnias.”

 WHY IT MATTERS 

“During the war, our newsroom in Kharkiv has been primarily focused on rapid-response reporting, shelling incidents, and crisis coverage - responsibilities we cannot afford to ignore,” said Serhiy Prokopenko, head of GWARA Media. “Yet we understand that these are not the only challenges facing the country.”

IWPR’s support is enabling outlets to strengthen their investigative capacity even amid active conflict.

Oleksandra Stepanova, executive director of Human Rights Platform in Kyiv, explained that IWPR had facilitated a unique collaboration with Ukraine’s state railways.

“We work together to identify practical solutions that, on the one hand, reduce potential corruption risks within a state-owned enterprise and, on the other, help demonstrate transparency in its operations, thereby strengthening public trust and enhancing the institution’s reputation.”

Olena Kravchenko, deputy director of Odesa’s Anticorruption Dimension, one of the few regional outlets covering accountability, said that IWPR support had contributed to two prosecutions in 2026 alone. Without such backing, she continued, “a significant number of abuses and misconduct cases would likely remain invisible”.

 THE BOTTOM LINE 

Since 2014, IWPR has worked with media and civil society in Ukraine to support investigative reporting and civic engagement in positive change. 

Such joint efforts mean that corruption is no longer viewed as inevitable but as a threat to national security and Ukraine’s democratic future.

“As readers increasingly approach our newsroom directly to report suspected violations,” said Kravchenko, “we believe that, through our joint efforts, a culture of zero tolerance for corruption is gradually taking shape at the local level.”