Corruption in Ukraine Drops Nearly Fourfold Over 17 Years

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Progress

According to Главком: According to a report featured in an article by Glavkom titled 'Anti-Corruption Euro-Repair: How the Council, NACP, and Government Are Crafting a New Strategy,' the level of corruption in Ukraine has declined dramatically over the past 17 years. Specifically, corruption in interactions between citizens and authorities fell nearly fourfold-from 67.8% in 2008 to 18.2% in 2025. These figures highlight substantial advances in the country’s fight against corruption.

Dmytro Kalmykov, an expert in anti-corruption policy, noted: 'To assess the real level of corruption in Ukraine, let’s look at data from the last 17–18 years. In 2008, 67.8% of Ukraine’s population reported experiencing corruption in the previous 12 months, but by 2025 that figure had dropped to just 18.2%. This means the actual level of corruption in government-citizen interactions has decreased nearly fourfold, and the reason lies in a series of successful sectoral reforms.'

Successful Anti-Corruption Reforms

Among the notable anti-corruption achievements is a more than 50% reduction in corruption within higher education. Additional measures include:

• Introduction of external independent testing (ZNO) for bachelor’s and master’s admissions;
• Automated allocation of state-funded spots via the Unified State Electronic Database on Education;
• Formula-based funding for higher education institutions.

Accreditation in this sector was also transferred from the Ministry of Education to an independent body.

Positive trends are also evident in law enforcement and anti-corruption efforts, where corruption levels have nearly halved. The State Traffic Inspectorate was abolished and replaced by the patrol police, and most services have been moved to service centers under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Exam sessions are now video-recorded, and secure systems ensure anonymity for theoretical tests. Dmytro Kalmykov emphasized that 'this was achieved through structural changes-abolishing the State Traffic Inspectorate and creating the patrol police. Moreover, most services were relocated to Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers.'

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law titled 'On the Principles of State Anti-Corruption Policy for 2026–2030.' This bill was developed by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention. Its adoption marks a critical step in building an effective anti-corruption framework in Ukraine and supports the continuation of positive changes in this area.

The decline in corruption levels is a key indicator of the success of anti-corruption reforms implemented in Ukraine in recent years. For instance, changes in higher education and law enforcement could serve as models for other sectors requiring similar reforms. The adoption of the new anti-corruption policy draft for 2026–2030 may ensure further progress in this vital effort, which in turn will positively impact the country’s overall situation and its international reputation.

As Ukraine continues to make strides in reducing corruption, the government has recently approved a new anti-corruption strategy through 2030. This initiative aims to build on the successes achieved over the past years, ensuring further progress and commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.