For the first time in its 10 years of operation, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) underwent an external independent assessment of its effectiveness, conducted by international experts. The audit was not only a snapshot of where we stand, but also a guide for the institution’s future development. Its conduct is mandated by law and is part of Ukraine’s international obligations in the field of anti-corruption reform.
The assessment covered the period from March 2023 to November 2024. The commission worked for nearly six months, and the final conclusions were published in the spring of 2025. The evaluation was carried out by an independent commission of three experts delegated by international partners.
The audit concluded that NABU is moderately effective
In particular, NABU was found to be substantially effective under the key criterion of pre-trial investigation — one of the highest possible ratings under the methodology approved by the commission. The auditors also confirmed an adequate level of institutional independence and resilience of the Bureau, which is especially important in the context of the ongoing war.
The audit report includes a number of recommendations — both for improving internal processes (such as management systems, staff recruitment, and analytics) and for addressing external barriers that limit NABU’s potential. Some of these recommendations have already been taken into account: the Bureau is developing an implementation plan with clear timelines, responsible persons, performance indicators, and resources.
At the same time, certain changes require political support from other state authorities. These include:
- introducing autonomous wiretapping capabilities;
- establishing an independent forensic expert institution;
- updating legislation regulating interagency cooperation;
- amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
These decisions are critically important for enhancing NABU’s capacity in priority areas — particularly in investigating corruption in defense, energy, customs, and taxation.
This audit was not only a test but also a significant milestone in NABU’s development. It confirmed that the agency is fulfilling its core mandate — conducting independent and effective investigations of high-level corruption crimes — and outlined a path to strengthening its performance in the future.
