2024 was a year of change, challenges, and achievements that outlined new horizons for NABU’s work.

The transformation of organizational approaches, staff expansion, new work methods, and tackling internal crises laid the foundation for a confident transition into 2025.

Public demand for anti-corruption efforts is the key driving force behind our activities. Ukraine, fighting for its very existence, needs institutions capable of ensuring the inevitability of punishment for corruption crimes, even at the highest levels of power. This is NABU’s mission and the challenge we face daily.

Last year, NABU had significant results. In 2024, we launched 658 new cases, including 95 in the defense sector, 37 in the energy sector, and 101 related to law enforcement and oversight bodies. Among the high-profile cases are investigations involving former members of parliament, ministers, customs, and tax officials linked to multimillion-dollar graft. The total identified losses exceeded UAH 26 billion. Thanks to our efforts, UAH 823 million was reimbursed to the state, and assets worth UAH 6.8 billion were seized.

NABU focuses not only on high-profile cases but also on implementing new approaches to work. Prioritizing key areas, exploiting the eCase system, digitizing processes, and developing the institution contribute to improving efficiency. Currently, the Bureau is undergoing large-scale staff expansion along with new performance evaluation protocols.

Meanwhile, 2024 reminded us that growth is impossible without overcoming challenges. The crisis that NABU faced strengthened the organization, highlighted the importance of open communication within the team, and reinforced institutional independence.

In the fall of 2024, the first in NABU's 10-year history audit began. It is a crucial step toward ensuring transparency and building trust in the country’s anti-corruption institutions. We fully support this process, as transparency and efficiency in the fight against corruption are the foundation for building a strong, democratic state.

In 2025, we will focus on several key areas: combating corruption in the defense sector, energy, customs, and the tax system. A separate priority will be monitoring the country’s reconstruction processes and enhancing regional operations.

NABU works for society to ensure the inevitability of punishment for corruption crimes. We believe that consistent reforms and transparency in public administration will help reduce corruption risks. Our ultimate goal is to create conditions where graft becomes a rare exception rather than a systemic problem.

We thank everyone who supports NABU and SAPO. There is much work ahead, but we are confident that together we can make Ukraine stronger.

THE SECOND HALF OF 2024 HAS BEEN A DEFINING PERIOD FOR SAPO, MARKED BY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND STRUCTURAL REFORMS

This time was not only about tangible victories in the fight against corruption but also about deep institutional and legislative changes that have strengthened SAPO’s role as an independent and effective body.

One of the most notable achievements was the adoption of key legislative amendments, particularly concerning plea agreements and corporate liability. These reforms have expanded the legal toolkit for investigating corruption cases. However, a critical legislative gap remains: the need to repeal the so-called Lozovyi amendments. Restoring the prosecutor’s authority to extend pre-trial investigation deadlines and granting the Head of SAPO the independent power to initiate proceedings against members of parliament and establish joint investigative teams in cross-border cases are essential steps toward ensuring that those responsible for high-level corruption face justice.

SAPO also set new records in 2024 for reclaiming illicit assets. Over UAH 55 million in unjustified assets have been targeted through 12 legal claims submitted to the courts— each a crucial step in restoring fairness and reinforcing the principle that corruption does not pay.

In addition, more than UAH 2.4 billion has been redirected toward Ukraine’s defense efforts. These funds, recovered through bail forfeitures, fines from plea agreements, and other legal mechanisms, have directly supported the country’s resilience during wartime.

Over the course of the year, SAPO prosecutors have notified 231 individuals of suspicion, including a sitting minister, members of parliament, the former Head of the State Migration Service, judges, senior officials of state institutions, and prosecutors from the Prosecutor General’s Office. A record-breaking 113 indictments have been filed in court, targeting corruption schemes in customs operations, Ukrzaliznytsia, the energy sector, defense enterprises, and other industries critical to Ukraine’s stability.

SAPO remains committed to strengthening its impact, ensuring that the fight against corruption is not just a slogan but a reality. A system where accountability is inevitable is not only essential for Ukraine’s internal transformation but also a key requirement on its path to full EU membership. That is why implementing the EU’s recommendations on boosting institutional capacity in tackling grand corruption remains one of our top priorities.

I extend my gratitude to the dedicated teams at SAPO and NABU for their hard work, to the Ukrainian people and our international partners for their steadfast support in this common cause, and to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and volunteers who defend our sovereignty every day.

OUR MISSION IS CLEAR: TO BUILD A UKRAINE WHERE CORRUPTION HAS NO FOOTHOLD, AND WE WILL NOT RELENT IN THIS EFFORT.