“
However, this year saw a tectonic shift in the country, which concerns precisely the nature of the perception of corruption — the very foundation that Transparency International investigates.
We did not receive the expected package of systemic reforms from the authorities, but we witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon: complete ethical rejection of corruption by Ukrainian society. When popular outrage becomes a factor that cannot be ignored, the authorities have to give way.
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The only question is how permanent these changes are and whether they are capable of changing the architecture of corruption in Ukraine forever.
Why is this a result contrary to the actions of the authorities? I confess: after seeing the first numbers of the Index, I felt a certain dissonance. On paper, we see a plus, but in reality, in 2025, we observed an almost complete paralysis of systemic anti-corruption changes.
Most of the reforms were not just slowed down, they were at risk. Even the critically important transformation of ARMA was accompanied by such delays in the parliament that even resulted in direct financial losses for the state budget.
Instead of systematic steps, we saw the escalation of corruption scandals. At a certain point, there was a persistent impression that the key anti-corruption “safeguards” were being deliberately broken. After all, how else to interpret the situation when people from NABU and SAP become involved in the investigations the closest circle of the president?
It is important to record honestly: the activity of law enforcement officers in these cases is not a consequence of the goodwill of the political leadership or internal “self-cleaning” of the system. This is solely the result of the professional autonomy of NABU and SAP, which continued to put pressure on top corruptors even under direct political and power pressure.
So where does this increase in points come from? A detailed analysis of the components of SRI confirms: we are dealing with a unique shift in perception. For years, our organization has explained that the Index does not study the physical volume of bribes, but how corruption is seen and perceived by experts and businesses — both inside the country and outside. We always want to see stable “pluses”, because it shows the trust of our partners. But last year, even within the country, there was no sense of progress. On the contrary, we felt the familiar and extremely dangerous aftertaste of a return to arbitrariness, where real struggle is replaced by imitation.
External circumstances also put pressure on the situation. The change in the United States’ focus on the Ukrainian reform agenda cannot be ignored. The assertiveness of the Western allies weakened somewhat, and European leaders were forced to focus on their own security. Constant assurances of unconditional support for Ukraine have created a dangerous illusion of permissiveness “on the hills of Pechersk” — they say, everything is possible in domestic politics.
People from the president’s entourage felt outside the access zone. And here the society gave a clear answer: the Ukraine of the model of 2025 is no longer the country of twelve years ago. The avalanche of popular anger went in a different direction than the initiators of the “rollback” of the reforms expected last year in July.
Who really saved our metrics? SRI studies the processes in the dynamics of the last two years. The most revealing thing for me was that Ukraine immediately added 5 points in the study of the Bertelsmann Foundation — this index records whether the officials bear real responsibility for corruption. That is, the researchers saw and evaluated not the promises of politicians, but the real procedural actions of NABU, SAP and VAKS.
This is the main answer to the question, why in the summer of 2025 the authorities failed to crack anti-corruption vertical. If earlier the work of detectives was often perceived as something ephemeral, now we have proof: this work is seen and taken into account by both global institutions and Ukrainian citizens. No one would stand up for inactive bodies. Instead, we saw the former a great social protest times of full-scale war.
This determination of the society had a deep meaning. In July, people came out “with cardboard boxes” to protect institutions, and by the end of the year we were convinced that the fight against corruption is a matter of physical security. At the level of heat, electricity and defense capability. Citizens kept NABU and SAP, but they were exposed in the fall scheme “Barrier” and resonant the case of Mindich. These investigations literally stopped the state from falling into the abyss of chaos.
Moreover, 2025 proved: the level of political influence is no longer an indulgence. Today, law enforcement officers are able to catch any corrupt person, which is a challenge even for developed democracies. If earlier cases were launched mainly after the publications of journalists, now the initiative has been seized by the anti-corruption system bodies themselves. This is a fundamentally new quality of struggle.
Breakthrough Strategy: What’s Next? However, it is worth being realistic: even the most effective work of NABU and SAP will not fundamentally change the situation without systemic reforms. Politicians can try to play by their own rules or sabotage the vote for months. But in the end, you will have to fulfill your obligations. It is no longer a question of “good behavior” before the IMF — it is a question of survival.
We understand that it is impossible to implement all reforms at the same time due to the lack of resources and human capital. However, there are steps that do not require billions of investments, but only political will. Transparency International Ukraine has identified 6 priorities for 2026:
Fulfillment of these points will allow converting high-profile suspicions into real sentences. The score received this year is progress within the margin of error. But for Ukraine, it is more important: our society has finally changed its paradigm.
Corruption has ceased to be “background noise” or an internal matter of the government. This intolerance, recorded in protests and actions, changes not only our perception of the world, but also the very limit of what is allowed within the state.
Andriy Borovyk, executive director of Transparency International Ukraine
A column is a type of material that reflects exclusively the point of view of the author. It does not claim objectivity and comprehensive coverage of the topic in question. The point of view of the editors of “Economic Pravda” and “Ukrainian Pravda” may not coincide with the author’s point of view. The editors are not responsible for the accuracy and interpretation of the given information and perform exclusively the role of a carrier.
”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
However, this year saw a tectonic shift in the country, which concerns precisely the nature of the perception of corruption — the very foundation that Transparency International investigates.
We did not receive the expected package of systemic reforms from the authorities, but we witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon: complete ethical rejection of corruption by Ukrainian society. When popular outrage becomes a factor that cannot be ignored, the authorities have to give way.
Advertising:
The only question is how permanent these changes are and whether they are capable of changing the architecture of corruption in Ukraine forever.
Why is this a result contrary to the actions of the authorities? I confess: after seeing the first numbers of the Index, I felt a certain dissonance. On paper, we see a plus, but in reality, in 2025, we observed an almost complete paralysis of systemic anti-corruption changes.
Most of the reforms were not just slowed down, they were at risk. Even the critically important transformation of ARMA was accompanied by such delays in the parliament that even resulted in direct financial losses for the state budget.
Instead of systematic steps, we saw the escalation of corruption scandals. At a certain point, there was a persistent impression that the key anti-corruption “safeguards” were being deliberately broken. After all, how else to interpret the situation when people from NABU and SAP become involved in the investigations the closest circle of the president?
It is important to record honestly: the activity of law enforcement officers in these cases is not a consequence of the goodwill of the political leadership or internal “self-cleaning” of the system. This is solely the result of the professional autonomy of NABU and SAP, which continued to put pressure on top corruptors even under direct political and power pressure.
So where does this increase in points come from? A detailed analysis of the components of SRI confirms: we are dealing with a unique shift in perception. For years, our organization has explained that the Index does not study the physical volume of bribes, but how corruption is seen and perceived by experts and businesses — both inside the country and outside. We always want to see stable “pluses”, because it shows the trust of our partners. But last year, even within the country, there was no sense of progress. On the contrary, we felt the familiar and extremely dangerous aftertaste of a return to arbitrariness, where real struggle is replaced by imitation.
External circumstances also put pressure on the situation. The change in the United States’ focus on the Ukrainian reform agenda cannot be ignored. The assertiveness of the Western allies weakened somewhat, and European leaders were forced to focus on their own security. Constant assurances of unconditional support for Ukraine have created a dangerous illusion of permissiveness “on the hills of Pechersk” — they say, everything is possible in domestic politics.
People from the president’s entourage felt outside the access zone. And here the society gave a clear answer: the Ukraine of the model of 2025 is no longer the country of twelve years ago. The avalanche of popular anger went in a different direction than the initiators of the “rollback” of the reforms expected last year in July.
Who really saved our metrics? SRI studies the processes in the dynamics of the last two years. The most revealing thing for me was that Ukraine immediately added 5 points in the study of the Bertelsmann Foundation — this index records whether the officials bear real responsibility for corruption. That is, the researchers saw and evaluated not the promises of politicians, but the real procedural actions of NABU, SAP and VAKS.
This is the main answer to the question, why in the summer of 2025 the authorities failed to crack anti-corruption vertical. If earlier the work of detectives was often perceived as something ephemeral, now we have proof: this work is seen and taken into account by both global institutions and Ukrainian citizens. No one would stand up for inactive bodies. Instead, we saw the former a great social protest times of full-scale war.
This determination of the society had a deep meaning. In July, people came out “with cardboard boxes” to protect institutions, and by the end of the year we were convinced that the fight against corruption is a matter of physical security. At the level of heat, electricity and defense capability. Citizens kept NABU and SAP, but they were exposed in the fall scheme “Barrier” and resonant the case of Mindich. These investigations literally stopped the state from falling into the abyss of chaos.
Moreover, 2025 proved: the level of political influence is no longer an indulgence. Today, law enforcement officers are able to catch any corrupt person, which is a challenge even for developed democracies. If earlier cases were launched mainly after the publications of journalists, now the initiative has been seized by the anti-corruption system bodies themselves. This is a fundamentally new quality of struggle.
Breakthrough Strategy: What’s Next? However, it is worth being realistic: even the most effective work of NABU and SAP will not fundamentally change the situation without systemic reforms. Politicians can try to play by their own rules or sabotage the vote for months. But in the end, you will have to fulfill your obligations. It is no longer a question of “good behavior” before the IMF — it is a question of survival.
We understand that it is impossible to implement all reforms at the same time due to the lack of resources and human capital. However, there are steps that do not require billions of investments, but only political will. Transparency International Ukraine has identified 6 priorities for 2026:
Fulfillment of these points will allow converting high-profile suspicions into real sentences. The score received this year is progress within the margin of error. But for Ukraine, it is more important: our society has finally changed its paradigm.
Corruption has ceased to be “background noise” or an internal matter of the government. This intolerance, recorded in protests and actions, changes not only our perception of the world, but also the very limit of what is allowed within the state.
Andriy Borovyk, executive director of Transparency International Ukraine
A column is a type of material that reflects exclusively the point of view of the author. It does not claim objectivity and comprehensive coverage of the topic in question. The point of view of the editors of “Economic Pravda” and “Ukrainian Pravda” may not coincide with the author’s point of view. The editors are not responsible for the reliability and interpretation of the given information and perform exclusively the role of a carrier .