In 2025, NABU remains focused on priority areas in the fight against corruption, particularly in the defense, energy, tax, and customs sectors, as well as in the country's reconstruction processes.
In the fall of 2024, an audit of NABU's activities began, serving as an important tool for assessing the Bureau's efficiency. It enhances transparency, identifies potential shortcomings, and strengthens public and international partners’ trust in Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. NABU fully contributes to this process, as it remains committed to improving its work for greater efficiency in fulfilling its mandate.
Despite its significant achievements and results, NABU faces a several challenges that require comprehensive solutions. Key priorities include establishing an independent forensic institution to conduct examinations in cases investigated by NABU and SAPO, implementing the agency's right to independent wiretapping and improving legislation, particularly by closing loopholes in the so-called 'Lozovyi amendments.'
Establishment of an independent forensic institution
The absence of an independent forensic institution remains one of the major challenges. The current forensic system poses risks of information leaks, delays and potential interference. Operating such an institution within NABU would ensure independence and efficiency in conducting examinations — critical to documenting crimes and forming a solid evidence base.
Autonomous wiretapping
Another challenge concerns NABU's right to independently conduct covert investigative actions, particularly wiretapping. The lack of this feature limits the Bureau’s ability to swiftly respond to corruption offenses and prevent them in real-time. Securing independence in this area is crucial for strengthening the anti-corruption framework. NABU continues to cooperate with the Security Service of Ukraine to tackle this issue.
Legislative improvements
The third significant obstacle is legislative shortcomings, in particular the so-called “Lozovyi amendments” which impose strict deadlines on investigations and introduce additional procedural hurdles. These limitations create opportunities for delaying cases and complicate efforts to hold high-ranking officials accountable for corruption. Addressing this issue depends on Parliament, which must introduce the necessary legislative changes.
Strengthening institutional capacity
The challenge successfully addressed by NABU was the crisis related to potential information leaks. This issue sparked public concern, but was ultimately resolved through personnel decisions, enhanced internal procedures, and the introduction of additional safeguards. As a result, NABU has emerged stronger both in terms of its values and management approaches. We have improved our internal monitoring system, minimizing the risks of similar situations in the future.
Conducting the audit and addressing these challenges is not solely NABU's task - it is a shared goal of society, the political establishment, and international partners. The success of anti-corruption reform is the key to effective governance, public trust in the state, and Ukraine's sustainable development.
