Fighting Corruption in Wartime Ukraine

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  

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies this week arrested several senior officials over an alleged defence procurement fraud scheme – just days after a government U-turn that restored the oversight bodies’ independence.

A public outcry had greeted President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unexpected July 22 introduction of a law weakening the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). Barely a week later, following civil society and youth protests, parliament overturned the controversial law.

 VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE 

“Corruption literally kills Ukrainians – we are at war and cannot afford to be inefficient with any of our resources,” explained Kateryna Laba, IWPR Ukraine project manager, noting that the scheme NABU and SAPO had uncovered a corruption scheme involving an MP of the Zelenskyi Party and authorities, who inflated prices for drone and electronic warfare contracts.

“It is also important to highlight how Ukraine’s independent media and civil society have continued to hold the government accountable, even during wartime,” she continued. “The law passed on July 22 gave the Prosecutor General — a position appointed by the President — oversight of these anti-corruption bodies, which would have effectively eliminated their independence."

“The President’s decision to rework the July 22 bill highlights the critical role and effective pressure of civil society watchdogs in upholding democratic governance in Ukraine.”

 WHY IT MATTERS 

Corruption has long plagued public life in Ukraine, and strenuous efforts have been made to tackle the issue, especially in the light of the ongoing war, the country’s potential EU accession and anticipated post-conflict reconstruction. 

Backsliding in anti-corruption efforts would seriously impact on international support and crucial aid. 

“NABU and SAP were created nearly ten years ago as part of Ukraine’s shift toward European democratic values and in response to strong public demand for transparency and government accountability,” Laba said. “While such institutions are common in post-Soviet transitions and their effectiveness has sometimes fallen short of expectations, they remain crucial tools for holding officials and authorities accountable.” 

A core element of Russia’s malign influence campaign against Ukraine has been to depict it as an incompetent state that cannot overcome corruption. Continuing reform is essential to demonstrate that despite Ukraine’s multiple challenges, it continues to implement crucial change on the domestic front.

 THE BOTTOM LINE 

IWPR has been active in Ukraine since 2014, with much of our work designed to boost civil society capacity to increase government transparency and accountability as well as supporting and developing a strong cadre of independent media voices.  A 2021 handbook produced by IWPR’s Ukrainian partners was adopted as an official reference tool by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP), demonstrating the value of civil society contributions to the country's anti-corruption framework, and current programming continues to advance these vital efforts across the country.