In the wake of the Euromaidan protests that toppled the government of Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, Ukrainian activists and civil society organizations have pressed hard for anti-corruption reforms and greater openness and transparency in the public sector. Five years later, however, corruption remains a fixture of civic life—and a majority of Ukrainians believe the fight against corruption has been a failure. This new report reviews the changes that have taken place in the anti-corruption movement since the Euromaidan and identifies practical actions the international community can take to support reform efforts in Ukraine.

Vitaly Shabunin of the Anti-Corruption Action Center rallies protesters outside the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in Kyiv. (Photo by Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)
Vitaly Shabunin of the Anti-Corruption Action Center rallies protesters outside the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in Kyiv. (Photo by Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)

Summary

  • Despite an array of institutional innovations and reforms since the Euromaidan protest movement (or Revolution of Dignity) of 2013–14, corruption remains stubbornly persistent in Ukraine, with deleterious effects on the country’s economy.
  • Ordinary Ukrainians continue to support anti-corruption initiatives as a key national priority, but their support of anti-corruption reforms pales in comparison with their support for efforts to regain control of Ukraine’s eastern regions from Russian forces.
  • Shortfalls in accountable governance suggest that a reform strategy that has combined an emphasis on closing loopholes and curtailing opportunities for corruption with increasing the transparency of government processes and decision making is insufficient.
  • Activists and civil society organizations have directly contributed to major anti-corruption reforms and programs, but their influence and leverage are limited. They are also increasingly targeted by campaigns of intimidation and violence.
  • A divergence with respect to the pace and sequencing of change has emerged between local anti-corruption activists, on the one hand, and foreign donors and partners working in Ukraine, on the other, further complicating efforts to achieve accountability in governance.
  • International donors and foreign governments should refrain from providing financial support for the government in areas where it fails to deliver on anti-corruption reforms and should more strenuously protect and support activists.

About the Report

This report reviews the work of Ukrainian activists on advancing transparency and accountability reforms since the Euromaidan protests of 2013–14. Based on data collected from public sources and interviews conducted with activists and political observers in Ukraine in the summer and fall of 2018, the report was supported by the United States Institute of Peace, with assistance from USAID’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance office.

About the Author

Olena Tregub is secretary-general of the Independent Defense Anti-Corruption Committee, which was established by Transparency International to combat corruption in Ukraine’s defense sector. From 2015 to 2017, she led the national authority for international development assistance coordination in Ukraine’s Ministry of Economic Development.

Related Publications

How Does the Israel-Hamas War Impact Russia and Ukraine?

How Does the Israel-Hamas War Impact Russia and Ukraine?

Thursday, November 2, 2023

By: Mary Glantz, Ph.D.

Amid Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s military response in Gaza has significant and challenging repercussions for both countries and for U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense. Both Ukraine and Russia are seeking political and diplomatic support from the international community, which is watching closely to see who supports and who condemns Hamas and Israeli actions. At the same time, the war in Gaza threatens to take global attention and resources away from Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself. This change in focus could lead to a diminution of economic and military assistance for that embattled country.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Global Policy

For Ukraine Democracy: Reforms Now, Elections When Possible

For Ukraine Democracy: Reforms Now, Elections When Possible

Thursday, November 2, 2023

By: James Rupert

Ukraine this year faces a new version of a recurrent problem: How can countries sustain and strengthen democracy amid war or upheaval? Ukraine is postponing parliamentary elections this year that election experts say would be dangerous to hold under Russia’s continued military assault. In such straits, how might any democracy, whether established or emerging, renew the accountability and representativity of its government? Ukrainian officials and civic leaders say the country has no perfect option, but can do it through a combination of reforms and commitments already underway.

Type: Analysis and Commentary

Democracy & Governance

Mapping the Religious Landscape of Ukraine

Mapping the Religious Landscape of Ukraine

Monday, October 23, 2023

By: Denys Brylov;  Tetiana Kalenychenko;  Andrii Kryshtal

Religion and religious actors have been important influences on the occupation of Crimea and on hybrid warfare issues in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion, they have influenced social dynamics within Ukraine as a whole. This report analyzes the nuanced connections between religion and society, which are crucial to understanding the conflict, and offers lessons that can guide effective, feasible peacemaking and peacebuilding interventions.

Type: Peaceworks

Conflict Analysis & PreventionReligion

View All Publications