Ukraine’s Fight Against Corruption: Key Takeaways from the Rivne Roundtable
March 06, 2025
The latest survey by the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine found that 74% of Ukrainians consider the fight against corruption to be the country’s most pressing reform. The message is clear: people want transparency from their institutions and accountability for those who break the law.
But reforms require more than just public demand—they need expertise, cooperation, and sustained effort. This is where the EUAM Ukraine plays a key role. By providing expertise, sharing European best practices, and working directly with law enforcement agencies at both central and regional levels, the Mission supports Ukraine’s institutions in meeting public expectations.
As part of this support, EUAM co-organised a two-day roundtable in Rivne in partnership with the regional department of the National Police of Ukraine (NPU). The event brought together the heads of corruption prevention units from law enforcement agencies across the Rivne, Volyn, Lviv, and Ternopil regions, including representatives from the NPU, the Regional Prosecution Office, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Court Security Service of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the State Migration Service of Ukraine, and the National Agency on Corruption Prevention.
This roundtable provided a platform for key stakeholders to exchange insights and work together to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms. Discussions focused on reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and the importance of peer-to-peer dialogue. Officials also identified key areas for legal improvement, including the submission of electronic asset declarations and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. Steps were outlined to integrate European best practices into Ukraine’s framework.
“For the Mission, anti-corruption is one of the cross-cutting measures and is integrated into all our activities,” said Hannelore Valier, Head of Field Office Lviv. “Corruption remains one of the biggest obstacles to reform, and strengthening the anti-corruption capacity of our Ukrainian partners is crucial. Especially when we see that people prioritise this reform above all others.”
One of the key issues addressed was the public perception of whistleblowers. Too often, those who expose corruption are seen as traitors rather than defenders of integrity. Participants agreed that this view must change—whistleblowers should be recognised as essential allies in the fight against corruption.
The roundtable participants also reaffirmed the commitment of the National Police of Ukraine to ensuring strict compliance with anti-corruption legislation, especially under martial law.
“Our task is to increase the authority of police officers and the entire system because we work honestly, transparently, and for the sake of justice. This is a matter not only of image but also of public trust, without which it is impossible to effectively perform our duties,” concluded Viktor Shanskyi, Chief of Police of the Rivne region.
The discussions and exchange of experiences at the roundtable contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts. As a result, the law enforcement agencies are better equipped to tackle corruption and build public confidence in their work.
