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Bribery, a persistent issue in Ukraine, has seen numerous cases unveiled in 2025. From high-ranking officials to local employees, corruption permeates various levels of government and public service. Noteworthy cases include a Deputy Prosecutor in the Zaporizhzhia Region under investigation for a $40,000 bribe and a state enterprise director accused of accepting ₴3 million for land allocation. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have been instrumental in exposing these illicit activities. Moreover, military-related bribery cases, such as smuggling draft dodgers and issuing false medical reports for mobilization evasion, highlight the intersection of corruption and national security. The ongoing revelations underscore the critical need for comprehensive anti-corruption measures to uphold the rule of law in Ukraine.
What are recent instances of bribery involving Ukrainian officials?
Recent instances include a regional prosecutor demanding a $10,000 bribe, and the Deputy Prosecutor of Zaporizhzhia Region being investigated for a $40,000 bribe. High-value cases also involve $1 million demands by Lviv's commercial court chairmen and $85,000 by a People's Deputy. Various military officials have also been implicated in bribery related to evading mobilization and issuing false disability reports.
How have Ukrainian authorities responded to bribery cases?
The authorities, including the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), and Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), have actively investigated and detained numerous individuals involved in bribery. High-profile trials and convictions demonstrate a commitment to tackling corruption, though challenges remain given the scale of these issues.
What are common schemes of bribery related to mobilization in Ukraine?
Common schemes involve military officials and medical personnel taking bribes to issue false documentation for disability or demobilization, enabling individuals to evade service. Others have organized illegal border crossings for draft dodgers or offered "comfort tours" for evasion, with fees amounting to thousands of dollars or euros. These actions undermine Ukraine's military integrity and highlight the necessity of anti-corruption efforts in the defense sector.
Can you detail a significant bribe case involving a Ukrainian military official?
One significant case involved an Odesa military unit commander who extorted 30% of his subordinates' salaries over seven months. The case highlights the abuse of power and the detrimental effect on morale and unit cohesion. Such cases are a focus for anti-corruption entities in Ukraine, aiming to cleanse the military of corrupt practices.
What role do anti-corruption agencies play in Ukraine's bribery investigations?
Anti-corruption agencies like the NABU and SAPO play a crucial role in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting bribery cases. These agencies have been effective in uncovering schemes involving high-level officials and law enforcers, as well as municipal and regional employees. Their efforts are vital to promoting transparency and adhering to legal standards, although continuous vigilance and resources are needed to sustain the momentum against corruption.
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$10,000 to let wanted man through: two drivers were detained at Yahodyn whilst attempting to bribe border guard. PHOTOS At the ‘Yahodyn’ border crossing, law enforcement officers detained two drivers of an international coach who had attempted to offer a bribe of 10,000 US dollars to an officer of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. 1 026 5
Fake NABU employee demanded $500,000 from businessman: he has been detained. VIDEO+PHOTO A man has been exposed for posing as an employee of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and promising a businessman, in exchange for money, to ‘sort out’ problems relating to taxes, the courts and criminal prosecution. 2 588 6 Previously in trend: Grafters
From $4,000 to $7,000 for service in "rear": two cases of extorting money from military personnel uncovered in western Ukraine – SBI. PHOTOS Two cases of extorting money from military personnel in exchange for the opportunity to remain in or transfer to service in the rear have been uncovered in the Lviv and Zakarpattia regions. 1 051 3 Previously in trend: Evasion of military service
NABU has exposed tax officials in Ternopil region: €75,000 in bribes and 11.5 per cent ’kickback’. PHOTOS The Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in the Ternopil region has uncovered a scheme involving the receipt of bribes from local companies. 2 874 8 Previously in trend: Bribery in the tax service
Sold confidential data from secret databases: SBI has exposed SSU operative in Zhytomyr region. PHOTO Officers from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), with the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), have detained an investigating officer from the Korosten District Department of the SSU in the Zhytomyr region, who was selling information about the owners of certain telephone... 2 618 9
4.5 million UAH bribe demanded for acceptance of EW for AFU: NABU and SAPO expose two military officers for bribery. PHOTOS Anti-corruption authorities have caught two military personnel taking bribes; they had demanded an unlawful benefit from company representatives in exchange for ensuring the unhindered acceptance of electronic warfare equipment. 21 030 29 Previously in trend: Bribery in army
He tried to leave country as foreign national for $3,000: man with two passports was detained at border with Moldova. PHOTOS At the ‘Mohyliv-Podilskyi’ road border crossing, border guards from the Mohyliv-Podilskyi detachment foiled an attempt to bribe an official. 3 727 19 Previously in trend: Illegal border crossing
$5,000 for service behind front lines: official and his accomplice have been exposed in Kyiv region. PHOTO In Kyiv, charges have been brought against the head of a branch of one of the district TCR and SS and the head of a civil society organisation, who organised a scheme to accept bribes from conscripts. 1 573 5
Head of Mykolaiv Regional TCR detained over $15,000 bribe for evading mobilisation – Prosecutor General Kravchenko. PHOTOS The head of the Mykolaiv Regional TCR and SS was detained while receiving another instalment of an undue advantage. According to the investigation, the official demanded and received a total of USD 15,000. 9 406 51 Previously in trend: Grafters Corruption in TCR
He collected "tribute" from subordinates and tried to flee Ukraine: head of Security Police unit in Dnipropetrovsk region detained – SBI. VIDEO+PHOTOS The head of a Security Police unit in the Dnipropetrovsk region has been detained on suspicion of organising systematic extortion payments from his subordinates. More than 100 police officers paid their superiors between UAH 3,000 and UAH 8,000 each month, with the total "tribute" exceeding UAH... 5 735 25 Previously in trend: Extortion of funds
Two Tax Service officials exposed for extorting UAH 80,000 from entrepreneur in Sumy region – Prosecutor General’s Office. PHOTOS Two employees of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in the Sumy region demanded a UAH 80,000 bribe from an entrepreneur. 1 135 6 Previously in trend: Grafters
Man demands $1 million to help avoid extradition to Russia, is detained – NABU. VIDEO+PHOTOS Anti-corruption agencies exposed an individual who demanded $1 million for assistance in resolving the issue of a citizen’s extradition to Russia. 4 828 16 Previously in trend: Extortion of funds
14 million in cash for bogus disability claims: law enforcement officers have arrested group of doctors in Kharkiv region and revealed bedroom full of dollars. PHOTOS A scheme involving the illegal granting of disability status to conscripts has been uncovered in the Kharkiv region. For between 5,000 and 8,000 US dollars, they were helped to obtain documents entitling them to a deferment from mobilisation. 8 576 34 Previously in trend: Fake disability among prosecutors
A man has been arrested in Volyn who promised to "remove" a border guard from service for $20,000. PHOTO In Lutsk, law enforcement officers arrested a 47-year-old man who had demanded $20,000 from the family of a border guard in exchange for helping him to be discharged from military service on health grounds. 870 5 Previously in trend: Evasion of military service
$150,000 to close case: NABU exposes SSU officer taking bribe. VIDEO+PHOTOS Anti-corruption authorities have charged an SSU officer with inciting a business representative to offer a bribe to law enforcement officers in order to recover money seized during a search and have the criminal proceedings dropped. 5 863 25 Previously in trend: Grafters
Army corps officials suspected of extorting money from soldiers: charged with 274,000 UAH. PHOTOS Three officials from an army corps in the Kharkiv region are suspected of extorting money from soldiers. 3 694 13 Previously in trend: Bribe-takers in military units
Demanded 100,000 UAH from subordinate for ’unhindered’ service: military personnel exposed in Dnipropetrovsk region, – National Police. PHOTOS An illegal scheme involving extortion and the acceptance of bribes by officials at one of the military units has been uncovered. In exchange for 100,000 hryvnias, they guaranteed that a subordinate would not face disciplinary action and, as a result, would retain his bonus. The suspects have... 2 082 9 Previously in trend: Bribe-takers in military units
Mayor of port city in Odesa Oblast demanded $35,000 bribe for approving construction of new power plant: he was detained – SSU. PHOTO The Security Service has detained the mayor of a town in the Odesa region who demanded bribes during the modernisation of the southern region’s energy infrastructure. 3 112 35 Previously in trend: Grafters
Drunk State Geocadastre official detained for extorting 300,000 hryvnias from farmer, - SBI. PHOTO Officers from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), working in conjunction with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), have exposed the head of one of the State Geocadastre’s sectors in the Kharkiv region, who demanded and received a bribe of 300,000 hryvnias from the manager of a local farm. 1 753 3 Previously in trend: Grafters
Ukrainian Armed Forces major suspected of extorting 100,000 UAH for supplying food to troops in Odesa. PHOTO A major – the head of a food depot at one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ supply centres in Odesa – has been served with a notice of suspicion. 1 518 9 Previously in trend: Corruption in defence
SSU officer was arrested for taking $34,000 bribe to defer mobilisation. PHOTO Law enforcement officers have uncovered and put a stop to the illegal activities of a serving SSU officer and his accomplice, a businessman, who had organised a scheme involving the fictitious employment of men to secure deferrals from conscription. 4 854 21 Previously in trend: Grafters Bribery in the SSU
Demanded $1,500 from war veteran to remove him from register: TCR officer detained in Dnipro. PHOTOS The Security Service, in conjunction with the National Police, has detained an employee of one of the mobilisation departments of the TCR and SS in Dnipro, who had organised a scheme to systematically extort bribes from conscripts. 4 786 43 Previously in trend: Grafters Corruption in TCR
In Odesa, naval academy officer demanded $1,600 for admission to exam session. PHOTOS In Odesa, law enforcement officers have arrested a course officer at a maritime university who was demanding money from students in exchange for resolving issues relating to their studies. 3 064 17 Previously in trend: Grafters
Demanded $100,000 cash bribe for dismantling railway track: "UZ"official detained in Khmelnytskyi region. VIDEO&PHOTOS The deputy director of the Environmental Safety Department at JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" has been arrested for demanding $100,000 from a representative of a granite manufacturing company in the Khmelnytskyi region. 4 435 10 Previously in trend: Grafters
Odesa region district TRC official promised to resolve AWOL issue for $10,000, he was detained. PHOTOS In the Odesa region, law enforcement officers exposed an official of a district Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TRC and SS) who, for a bribe, promised to help a serviceman avoid liability for absence without leave (AWOL) and assist with employment. 1 515 13 Previously in trend: Grafters AWOL in AFU
Two senior officials of SSU directorates in Kyiv and Rivne region exposed over $620,000 bribe. PHOTO The Internal Security Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine has detained an intermediary and two deputy heads of regional departments of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) who were trying to set up an illegal scheme. The case concerns high-ranking officials in the city of Kyiv and... 6 381 23 Previously in trend: Grafters
NABU and National Police expose judge from Kirovohrad region for taking bribe to close case. PHOTO The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), together with law enforcement agencies, have exposed a district court judge in the Kirovohrad region and his accomplice for receiving unlawful benefits. 2 462 9 Previously in trend: Grafters
200 thousand dollars and 350 thousand hryvnias seized: mother and son organised fake disability scheme in Vinnytsia region. PHOTOS A mother and son who work as doctors organised a scheme to sell fictitious disability certificates for 3,000 US dollars. 8 463 28 Previously in trend: Fake disability among prosecutors
Commander of logistics of AFU’s Air Force and head of SSU in Zhytomyr region were caught taking $320,000 bribe. PHOTOS The commander of logistics for the Ukrainian Air Force, a colonel, and the head of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Zhytomyr region were caught taking a bribe of $320,000. 13 667 76 Previously in trend: Grafters
SSU employee exposed for taking £68,000 bribe: promised to "resolve issue" of removing search warrant in TCR, - NABU. PHOTO Anti-corruption authorities have exposed and detained an employee of the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv and Kyiv Region for bribery. 11 530 30 Previously in trend: Grafters
Volyn customs "slush fund" for December: Zhelezniak calls for reform of State Customs Service. PHOTO The State Customs Service needs reform due to widespread corruption. 12 481 47 Previously in trend: Bribe takers at customs offices
$30,000 for construction in Lutsk: NABU and SAPO expose Volyn lawmakers in corruption case. PHOTOS The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have exposed members of the Volyn Regional Council and Lutsk City Council for allegedly receiving an illegal benefit. 2 934 11
Koriukivka district prosecutor detained while taking $2,500 bribe – Kravchenko. PHOTO Investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation, under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the General Inspectorate of the Prosecutor General’s Office, have detained a prosecutor from the Koriukivka District Prosecutor’s Office in Chernihiv region while taking a bribe. 13 064 27 Previously in trend: Grafters Corruption in law enforcement agencies
Two bribe-givers were exposed on border with Moldova. VIDEO+PHOTOS During the day, border guards of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi detachment recorded two attempts at bribery. 1 809 5 Previously in trend: Grafters
Demanded $7,000 for transfer to another military unit: in Donetsk region, major of Armed Forces of Ukraine was notified of suspicion - Prosecutor’s office. PHOTOS In the Donetsk region, a major, head of the financial and economic service of one of the military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was served a notice of suspicion. 1 283 10 Previously in trend: Bribery in army
Education scandal in Chernivtsi: places in postgraduate programmes were sold for $4,500. PHOTO Prosecutors in the Chernivtsi region, together with the police, exposed a scheme to sell postgraduate places in three universities at once. 4 070 23 Previously in trend: Fighting corruption in Ukraine Corruption and mobilisation Corruption in Ukraine
OPG prosecutor and lawyer solicited $3.5 million bribe to "bribe" SAPO prosecutors and HACC judges, - NABU. PHOTOS The NABU and the SAPO have exposed a prosecutor of the Prosecutor General's Office and a lawyer who offered a suspect in one of the NABU cases to provide a bribe to close the proceedings. 6 208 20 Previously in trend: Grafters
Man who had boasted of his connections in Ministry of Defence and demanded $15,000 for transferring soldier to rear detained, - Office of Prosecutor General. PHOTOS Under the procedural supervision of prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office, a man who offered illegal services to influence personnel decisions in the Armed Forces of Ukraine was exposed. 1 906 5 Previously in trend: Grafters
Foreign Ministry diplomat sold Ukrainian passports to Russians for leaving to EU, - SSU. PHOTO The Security Service's Counterintelligence Service and the National Police, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, exposed a scheme to "legalise" Russian citizens in the European Union. 7 613 26 Previously in trend: Foreign Ministry diplomat sold Ukrainian passports to Russians
Demanded $5,500 for transferring soldier to rear: two border guards detained in Khmelnytskyi region. PHOTOS Two border guards who demanded a bribe from a colleague from a combat unit to transfer him to the rear unit were detained and notified of suspicion in Khmelnytskyi region. 1 722 5 Previously in trend: Grafters
$6,500 for concealing AWOL case: corruption scheme blocked in Khmelnytskyi region. PHOTO Police in Khmelnytskyi have blocked another corruption scheme: a local resident demanded $6,500 in exchange for not reporting a case of AWOL. 1 305 1 Previously in trend: Grafters AWOL in AFU
Female employee of TCR in Chernihiv region detained for promising to remove draft dodger from wanted list for 20,000 UAH. PHOTO A female employee of a district territorial center of recruitment and social support in Chernihiv region demanded and received a bribe in exchange for removing from active search a conscript evading military service. 11 933 33 Previously in trend: Corruption in TCR
Company commander in Dnipropetrovsk region took bribes for concealing fact of AWOL, - National Police. PHOTO A 52-year-old company commander of a reserve battalion of a military unit demanded about 10,000 hryvnias per month for not informing the command about his subordinates' unauthorised departure from the military unit. 5 587 18 Previously in trend: Bribe-takers in military units
NABU exposes Servant of People MP over scheme to procure drones and electronic warfare systems at inflated prices. PHOTOS (updated) Today, 2 August 2025, a number of measures were taken to expose the persons involved in the commission of a corruption crime. 20 696 113 Previously in trend: Grafters
Customs raids in Ukraine: Deputy Director of State Customs Department detained for profiting from draft dodgers. PHOTOS Law enforcement carried out a large-scale operation to dismantle criminal schemes at customs. In particular, a high-ranking State Customs official was detained on bribery charges in Kyiv, and other schemes were blocked simultaneously in three border regions. 12 257 11 Previously in trend: Bribe takers at customs offices
Berdychiv mayor Orliuk detained in Zhytomyr region. Receipt of bribe under investigation. PHOTOS Berdychiv city mayor Serhii Orliuk has been detained by law enforcement on charges of bribery and extortion. 5 184 14 Previously in trend: Grafters
Prosecutor from regional prosecutor’s office detained for demanding $10,000 bribe to "resolve issue" in proceeding. PHOTO Law enforcement officers exposed a prosecutor from a regional prosecutor’s office department for soliciting an unlawful benefit. 18 791 16 Previously in trend: Fighting corruption in Ukraine Corruption in the Prosecutor’s Office
$50,000 for smuggling group of draft dodgers: soldier and his accomplice detained, - State Bureau of Investigation. PHOTO SBI officers detained and served a notice of suspicion to a serviceman from Kyiv and a resident of Kharkiv who planned to smuggle four men of military age across the state border. The total amount of the "comfort tour" was USD 50 thousand. 1 742 9 Previously in trend: Smugglers of draft evaders exposed
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