Transparency International UK has engaged with Ukraine since 2009 through anti-corruption training of defence and security officials. TI’s Defence and Security Programme (TI-DSP) has also been hosting senior Ukrainian secondees – officers, officials, and experts – from Ukraine to spend some months with us at our offices in London, working on projects of common interest.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, TI-DSP is publishing three reports. These reports provide insights into corruption risks in defence and security: a vital but distinctly under-researched area of study.

The first, written by Serhiy Pun, a legal expert at the Security Service in Ukraine, examines corruption risk within the national security sector. The author persuasively argues that since the defence sector is a vital component of the state security sector and shares many characteristics with other security institutions, corruption risks within the institution must be addressed as a matter of priority.

Mykhailo Dmytriiev, also of the Security Service of Ukraine, undertook a study on the dangers of organised criminal groups infiltrating the defence and security sectors of the country. The report concluded that due to the inherent benefits for such groups to undertake this action, this will always be a risk. The author recommends that in order to successfully tackle this issue, the Ministry of Defence should develop a code of conduct to advise officials of their responsibilities and duties, improve current legislation to safeguard whistleblowing, establish rules on seizure of criminal records, and institute a program of cooperation between the Ministry of Defence, NGOs and the media to improve budget transparency and ensure that funds are not misappropriated.

Most recently, Iryna Kolosiuk, a senior expert from the State Committee for Financial Monitoring of Ukraine identified Ukrainian and Russian based institutions and researchers currently working to improve transparency and accountability in the defence and security sectors of Ukraine. The research provides an invaluable compendium of contacts for researchers interested in the specific region and industry.  

These secondees are able to work with TI-DSP thanks to a grant from the UK Ministry of Defence.  The training work is being done in collaboration between TI-DSP and NATO. We are currently hosting another senior secondee, from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.

Read Serhiy Pun's report 'Corruption risks in the security sector: highly important, under-researched and urgent'.

Read Mykhailo Dmytriiev's report 'Types of organised crime in Ukraine'.

Read Iryna Kolosiuk's report 'Defence & security corruption: Ukraine and the Russian Federation'.