Survey of Integrity in Ukrainian Business
Nine in ten companies surveyed said that corporate integrity, compliance systems, and anti-corruption measures make a positive difference for doing business in Ukraine.
With reconstruction and international investment high on the agenda, these findings offer a snapshot of how Ukrainian companies themselves perceive ethics and compliance. The results come from a study titled 'Recovering Ukraine with Integrity: The Role of Ethical Business,' carried out by Accountability Lab and the Professional Association of Corporate Governance (PACU). A total of 118 companies took part in the research.
Positive Findings and Persistent Challenges
More than half of respondents—57%—said these measures helped them avoid legal, financial, reputational, and other risks. Another 50% observed growing trust among donors, investors, clients, and foreign partners. Such outcomes point to the value of ethical conduct in today's economy.
Yet the picture is not entirely positive. 62% of companies encountered obstacles when rolling out specific anti-corruption and compliance initiatives. Among those facing hurdles, 51% pointed to the challenge of building risk-management systems. Companies lack practical tools, financial and human resources, and staff with the right expertise, all of which makes implementation harder.
For international donors, financial institutions, and programmes involved in financing or supporting Ukraine's recovery, the authors have created a 'Donor Roadmap' with recommendations for strengthening ethical business practices in the country.
The research drew on responses from 118 companies to 19 questions, plus 10 semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted on November 25–27. Support came from the New Democracy Fund, funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The findings were published on the 'Rubryka' website on 07.08.2026.
Overall, the study underscores the role of ethical business conduct in Ukraine, especially as the country rebuilds. The observed benefits from anti-corruption measures highlight the need to keep supporting companies in this area—above all with resources and skilled professionals. The Donor Roadmap recommendations could give international partners a practical way to foster greater integrity across Ukraine's business landscape.