Event

How corruption threatens war effort in Ukraine, and what is the remedy?

This event hosted by UK think tank Chatham House analyses how Ukraine’s corruption scandal impacts governance, accountability and international trust.

Ukraine is facing the largest corruption scandal since the start of Zelenskyy’s presidency. The National Anti-corruption  Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has exposed an alleged graft scheme in the state-owned Energoatom company that could cost the Ukrainian state $100 million in losses.

The government has initiated a sanctions process for the individuals suspected of involvement, and two ministers have resigned. The main organiser is alleged to be Timur Mindich, a co-owner of the TV studio company Kvartal 95 and a former close associate of President Zelenskyy. Given that Ukraine’s external finance needs for 2026-2027 are around $60 billion, the corruption scandal risks undermining the capacity of its European partners to commit critical resources.  

The webinar will discuss the nature of corruption in Ukraine and the effectiveness of recent anti-corruption reforms in exposure, prevention, and accountability

Key questions include:

• How will this scandal impact Zelenksyy’s leadership at home, and trust among international partners?
• What are the chances that the Ukrainian legal system can deliver accountability for top-level corruption?
• What is the role of international illicit finance in enabling corruption in the emerging markers?
• Is there any trace of Russian involvement, and how might the Kremlin instrumentalise this case against Ukraine?

Speakers

Event moderated by Orysia Lutsevych.

Orysia Lutsevych – Deputy Director, Russia and Eurasia Programme; Head of the Ukraine Forum

John Lough – Associate Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme

Liubov Tsybulska – Founder, Join Ukraine

Mykhailo Zhernakov – Executive Director, DEJURE Foundation