This document is a joint publication of Transparency International Ukraine (TI-Ukraine) and the Basel Institute on Governance. It takes stock of recent progress (June 2024 to February 2025) in strengthening Ukraine’s anti-corruption ecosystem.
It provides an update to a previous report and is published ahead of the Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, hosted by the OECD in Paris in March 2025.
Summary
- Steady progress: Ukraine has maintained a strong commitment to anti-corruption efforts. Our report highlights key developments that have driven steady progress towards combating corruption, despite some challenges.
- Geopolitical context: Turbulent geopolitics continue to test Ukraine’s resilience, including that of its anti-corruption bodies. The drastic reduction of US government assistance to anti-corruption efforts, in particular, are a defining characteristic in an already difficult environment.
- Corruption perceptions: Ukraine scored 35 out of 100 points on Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The decrease of one point since 2023 remains within the margin of error, yet this result should serve as a signal to the authorities that merely focusing on the formalistic updates and programmatic implementation of Ukraine’s commitments alone is insufficient. Significant reforms need to be conducted to unleash the power of Ukraine’s formidable anti-corruption community.
- Enforcement achievements: Anti-corruption institutions continue to make impressive progress in progressing cases, both in terms of total numbers and in cases against numerous high-level officials.
- Planning ahead: The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has commenced a major effort to develop Ukraine’s new Anti-Corruption Strategy. The strategy will take effect at the end of the year and guide the next phase of systemic reforms.
- Effective state control of public finances: The capacity of the State Audit Service must be strengthened, particularly by improving the effectiveness of public procurement monitoring.
- Boosting tools to access assets of corrupt officials and Russian war supporters: We highlight legally sound tools that could be utilised more fully to raise resources for the state, including special confiscation mechanisms, corporate criminal liability and adopting the criminalisation of sanctions evasion.
- Outstanding reform homework: Both Ukraine’s Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) and its sanctions enforcement mechanisms have seen the introduction of promising reform legislation drafts. These should be prioritised by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament).
Ukraine has maintained a strong commitment to anti-corruption efforts. Our report highlights key developments that have driven steady progress towards combating corruption, despite some challenges.
