Summer, Heat, and a Hint of Betrayal
While Ukrainians struggle to survive a brutal war, and volunteers scrape together funds for drones, decisions in high offices take a different turn. The message? Anti-corruption agencies are too much. Too independent. Too loud. Too close to people you’re not supposed to touch. You get the idea.
Reform, Ukrainian-Style
On July 22, Parliament passed Law No. 12414. On paper, it was technical. In reality, it was a bombshell that handed control of NABU and SAPO to the Prosecutor General—a political figure. Is this reform? Not quite. It’s a counterstrike. Because just as this law was passed, NABU and SAPO were digging into:
- Oleksiy Chernyshov — Deputy Prime Minister with a suspicious fondness for land.
- Oleh Tatarov — Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, long linked to a bribery case.
- Tymur Mindich — A close friend of the president, reportedly involved in shady construction schemes.
These cases were a thorn in the side of power. So the response? “Restore order.” Translation: silence the investigators.
Kharkivoblenergo: Transformers, Shell Companies, and $3.3 Million
Meanwhile, in Kharkiv—a textbook case. A state-owned company buys equipment at inflated prices. Funds flow through fake firms. Final destination: cash-out structures. Total: $3.3 million. Just one case. Among many.
Brussels Responds: “Are You Serious?”
The EU watches and says: “No. Not like this.” Ukraine failed to deliver on three key reforms tied to €1.5 billion in aid. The result? Funds frozen. Add to that a drop in Zelensky’s approval rating, harsh international criticism, and another round of “You’ve let us down.” Ukraine also slipped to 105th place in the global Corruption Perceptions Index. One point lost—and it’s not just a number. It’s a siren. Loud and clear.
July’s Wake-Up Call: Anti-Corruption Is No Longer Just a Policy
On July 24—three days after signing the controversial law—the president introduced a new bill meant to fix the damage. It included safeguards, but also new risks, like a requirement for NABU staff to undergo polygraph tests every two years. Europe is watching. According to Western media, the next tranche under the Ukraine Facility program will be reduced, and the European Commission has warned that any pressure on anti-corruption bodies could lead to a full suspension of funding.
“We’re not just at a crossroads. We’re on the brink of collapse,” says legal expert Andriy Biletsky.