Ukraine's Asset Agency Loses Track of Thousands of Seized Properties in Chaotic Committee Hearing

Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Committee Meeting

According to ХВИЛЯ: A late February session of Ukraine's parliamentary anti-corruption committee revealed alarming inconsistencies in the official count of seized assets. The leadership of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) repeatedly changed its figures during the hearing, causing deep concern among lawmakers who discovered the agency lacks data on the physical condition of thousands of assets.

At the start of the hearing, ARMA's head stated the agency managed 102,000 assets as of the end of 2025. She initially claimed 48,000 of these were household items from the Mezhyhirya Residence and a property linked to Viktor Medvedchuk. However, Committee Chair Anastasia Radina refuted this, noting these 48,000 items were never entered into the official registry. Following questions from deputies, ARMA representatives then revised the total figure down from 102,000 to 52,000.

ARMA's Conflicting Data

The committee secretary, summarizing the data by category, arrived at a total of 44,800 assets instead of 52,000. He remarked:

“The committee secretary simply adds up the figures stated by the ARMA head and says: you know, 52,000 doesn't add up, it comes to 44,800. It was panic.”

When deputies began scrutinizing these 44,000 assets, it emerged that ARMA has no knowledge of the physical state of 11,000 of them. As noted by Andrii Potiomkin:

“When they start analyzing the 44,000-having begun with 102,000-it turns out that for 11,000 of these assets, ARMA has no idea of their physical condition whatsoever. They have never laid eyes on them.”

This situation raises serious concerns about the transparency and effectiveness of ARMA's management of seized assets. ARMA is a key agency in Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, and its performance directly impacts public trust in the state's ability to reclaim illicit wealth. Lawmakers continue to demand clearer information on the status of assets to ensure proper oversight of their use.

The ongoing investigations and demands from deputies for accurate reporting could help improve asset management practices. However, it is crucial that these parliamentary actions lead to tangible changes in how the agency operates on the ground.

The ongoing challenges faced by the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) highlight a broader issue within Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. As the agency struggles to maintain accurate records and effectively manage seized assets, the reform processes remain hindered. For a deeper understanding of the implications of ARMA's inaction on asset management reforms, see our detailed report on the stalled progress here.