Last year, major corruption scandals rocked Ukraine’s government, including a $100 million kickback scheme at the state nuclear power company that took down several senior officials. More recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conducted sweeping personnel changes at the highest levels of his government, replacing his chief of staff and the heads of both major intelligence agencies amid mounting corruption concerns.
Ukraine skeptics in Europe and Washington have seized on these developments to continue portraying Kyiv’s government as hopelessly corrupt and undeserving of the West’s financial or military support. Ukraine’s allies have also viewed the events with unease.
The scandals are troubling and should not be dismissed. However, there is a reason for optimism that the sensational headlines and partisan political debates miss. Today’s levels of transparency and accountability in Kyiv are unprecedented in its history – the fact that graft is being exposed rather than concealed is a testament to that.
America should continue to demand that Zelenskyy’s government take a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, but it should also acknowledge that Ukraine’s institutions are more effective than ever. Its recent probes are a testament to its progress, not an indication of its failure.
Kyiv’s Anti-Corruption Watchdogs are Delivering
Ukraine’s two independent watchdogs—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO)—are doing exactly what they were created to do. Founded in the wake of the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, these bodies were designed to break the cycle of historic impunity in Ukraine, particularly among elites who were almost entirely in the Kremlin’s pocket before the revolution.
Under peacetime circumstances, Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies would have faced massive headwinds as they sought to root out systemic corruption. It goes without saying that these have not been normal circumstances. Despite a devastating war now entering its fourth year and occasional missteps by the government, Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies have demonstrated repeatedly that they can resist political pressure and remain dogged in their mission.
The recent investigations, firings, resignations, arrests, and resulting government reshuffles underscore how seriously Ukraine is taking the implementation of anti-corruption reforms. The fact that investigators could search the apartment of the president’s own chief of staff demonstrates institutional independence that would have been unthinkable years earlier and remains so in many countries across the region.
The personnel changes, in particular, tell an important story. When corruption investigations reached too close to the presidential administration, Zelenskyy responded by dismissing compromised officials rather than protecting them. In place of the Old Guard, Zelenskyy has turned to younger, reform-minded technocrats, as evidenced by his appointment of 34-year-old digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister. Another appointment that underscores Kyiv’s continued commitment to modernization and transparency is Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov as the country’s new Chief of Staff. Among his priorities: improving the State Bureau of Investigation law and continuing with judicial reform.
As progress is made at the political level, Ukraine’s press also continues to be an important driver of transparency and check on government power, in yet another encouraging sign. Contrary to claims made by some that press freedom in Ukraine is nonexistent, information about corruption scandals is widely available within the country. The extensive reporting about these probes and government reshuffles reflects a robust, free press at work. If Ukraine’s media were suppressed, it would be unlikely, if not impossible, for such graft to be exposed and for the public to follow developments in real time.
Ordinary Ukrainians are the driving force behind these reforms. They have rejected corruption, even in wartime, and expect their institutions to deliver on their commitments. Citizens are unafraid to protest and feel empowered to speak critically about their own government. Recent opinion polls show that 90% of Ukrainians believe the government can be criticized, even during a war. A majority of them also believe that Ukraine is making positive progress in combating corruption.
This was clearly demonstrated when protests erupted in mid-2025 in response to legislation that threatened the independence of NABU and SAPO. Widespread public pushback compelled the government to back down and maintain the autonomy of these watchdogs.
Today in Ukraine, young institutions are being pushed to their limits by years of war, yet transparency and accountability are prevailing. Trusted institutions are in place and have demonstrated a clear capacity to operate independently. The media is free to report critically about its government. The public’s demands are heard, and a democratically elected government often acts on them. Officials who abuse their positions are facing consequences rather than receiving kickbacks.
Continued Progress is Essential
Providing this nuance is not to downplay the scope of the challenges ahead. Corruption exists in Ukraine, and officials must remain alert to it. The country’s international partners, including the United States, should ensure that institutional reforms continue.
But for those who want to see a free and prosperous Ukraine emerge from the ashes of this brutal conflict, this moment should reinforce a simple truth: supporting Ukraine means strengthening its institutions, not just its defenses.
For Ukraine to remain independent and free, its institutions must be strong enough to resist Moscow’s corrupt tentacles and its rule of law trusted enough to attract new investment. As Ukraine continues to encourage Western businesses to invest through vehicles like the mineral deal signed with the United States last year, corruption will remain a massive hurdle to further investment, as it was prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
To this end, Ukraine is fighting two wars simultaneously. The first is against Russian aggression on the battlefield. The second is against the legacy of Soviet-era corruption at home. Victory on both fronts is essential to its survival as a sovereign, democratic nation. The United States has a strategic interest in ensuring Ukraine wins both battles.