The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is under pressure from the Ukrainian authorities, who have been trying to limit its independence in conducting investigative actions, along with its partner, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
Yesterday, under public pressure from mass protests – which appear to be the largest since the 2014 EuroMaidan – and statements from EU member states, President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to submit a bill to parliament that would restore the independence of anti-corruption institutions.
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Yet, while most Ukrainians support the independent functioning of anti-corruption agencies, some domestic critics argue that NABU’s performance falls short of expectations. On Facebook, journalist Olga Suprunenko wrote:
“The anti-corruption infrastructure today is pure fiction – a façade, a simulacrum. In ten years of its existence, there hasn’t been a single functioning system or sustainable institution that truly fights corruption.”
Private entrepreneur Bohdan Lesiuk echoed the sentiment in a separate post:
“Imagine this: I don’t support the law, I believe NABU is ineffective, that its leadership should be replaced and its staff re-evaluated – and I’m against protests during wartime!”
A Kyiv Post review of NABU cases over the last three years by social media users, including activist Anna Oskomina, identified just 23, out of several hundred, NABU cases over the past three years that involve top politicians, well-known businessmen, or Ukrainian officials.
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The list gives context to why the recent law that will limit NABU independence has prompted such anger and why so many of those in power want to control NABU.
Vsevolod Kniaziev, Head of the Supreme Court
Subject of investigation: $2.7 million bribe in 2023
Case status: Case in court, prosecution ongoing.
Dmytro Sennychenko, former head of the State Property Fund
Subject of investigation: losses of around Hr.600 million ($14.5)
Case status: Arrested in absentia, investigation completed in 2024.
Kyrylo Shevchenko, former head of the National Bank
Subject of investigation: Embezzlement of Hr.206 million ($5 million) from Ukrgasbank during 2014–2019
Case status: Charges issued in October 2022, arrested in absentia, indictment filed to court in February 2025.
Serhii Kuzminykh, MP from the president’s Servant of the People party
Subject of investigation: Received a Hr.558,000 ($13,500) bribe for a tender in 2022
Case status: Under trial, no verdict yet.
Anatolii Hunko, MP from the Servant of the People party
Subject of investigation: $85,000 bribe in 2023 for allocating land plots
Case status: Sentenced in 2025 to seven years in prison and confiscation.
Viktor Bondar, MP from the Servant of the People party
Subject of investigation: Embezzlement of Hr.140 million ($3.38 million) in Ukrzaliznytsia procurements
Case status: Suspicion in January 2025, case in court.
Iryna Kormyshkina, MP from the Servant of the People party
Subject of investigation: Illicit enrichment over Hr.20 million ($.5 million) (house purchase)
Case status: Suspicion issued, personal recognizance as preventive measure, verdict awaited.
Andrii Odarchenko, MP from Servant of the People (Kharkiv)
Subject of investigation: Attempted bribe ($50,000 in Bitcoin) to a Reconstruction Agency official in 2023
Case status: Case under court hearings.
Mykola Zadorozhnyi, MP from Servant of the People (Sumy region)
Subject of investigation: Demanded Hr.3.4 million ($800,000) to not interfere in a water supply tender in 2023
Case status: Suspicion issued, bail posted, investigation ongoing.
Oleh Tatarov, Deputy Head of the President’s Office
Subject of investigation: Falsifying expert reports for UkrBud
Case status: In 2021, the case was transferred from NABU to the SBU, where it stalled and was stopped.
Denys Komarnytskyi (Kyiv City Council deputy, one of Kyiv’s “shadow” managers)
Subject of investigation: Land scams
Case status: In spring 2025, Komarnytskyi fled Ukraine after searches.
Mykola Chaus, scandalous judge of Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi District Court
Subject of investigation: Caught receiving a $150,000 bribe in 2016 by NABU detectives
Case status: Sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023.
Olha Stefanishyna – Deputy Prime Minister in Denys Shmyhal’s government
Subject of investigation: Case opened for potential abuse in the Asset Recovery Agency
Case status: Proceedings launched in June 2025; no suspicion yet; Stefanishyna lost her government position.
Vadym Alperin, businessman
Subject of investigation: Attempted $800,000 bribe to NABU detective
Case status: Detained in November 2019, released on bail, case in court.
Andrii Smyrnov, former Deputy Head of the President’s Office
Subject of investigation: Illicit enrichment of Hr.15.7 million ($.38 million)
Case status: Suspicion handed over in May 2024.
Artem Shylo, advisor to the President’s Office
Subject of investigation: In April 2024, exposed for embezzling Hr.94.8 million during transformer procurement for Ukrainian Railways
Case status: Preventive measure imposed, investigation ongoing.
Mykola Solskyi, former Minister of Agrarian Policy in Shmyhal’s government
Subject of investigation: Land fraud worth Hr.291 million ($2.3 million)
Case status: Suspicion issued, Solskyi lost his government position.
Oleksandr Yurchenko, MP from Servant of the People
Subject of investigation: In 2020, exposed by NABU for a $13,000 bribe to amend the “green tariff” law and plans for $200,000 to bribe a Rada committee
Case status: Transferred to court in 2021; no verdict yet.
Oleksandr Trukhin, MP from Servant of the People
Subject of investigation: Attempted to bribe police after a car accident in 2021
Case status: In 2022, NABU and SAP informed him of suspicion; in 2023, Trukhin pleaded guilty, signed a deal with investigators, paid Hr.6 million ($145,000) to the Armed Forces and a Hr.68,000 fine. No jail sentence.
Liudmyla Marchenko, MP from Servant of the People
Subject of investigation: $11,300 bribe to facilitate border crossing via the “Shliakh” system; filmed during search while, pregnant, throwing money over a fence
Case status: Indictment sent to High Anti-Corruption Court in December 2023, no verdict yet. Marchenko voted for the July 21, 2025 law limiting NABU and SAP powers.
Hennadii Kasai, MP from Servant of the People
Subject of investigation: Named in NABU-SAP case on corruption in defense sector
Case status: In 2024, his aide Dmytro Parkhisenko received suspicion; he allegedly facilitated the scheme via connections in the Ministry of Defense. Kasai appears in the case materials; investigation continues.
Oleksii Chernyshov, former Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Communities and Territories Development in Shmyhal’s government
Subject of investigation: Accused of deliberately undervaluing land meant for development, causing over Hr.1 billion in state losses, and taking a bribe from a developer in the form of a Hr.14.5 million discount on real estate
Case status: Lost his position in summer 2025; posted Hr.120 million ($350,000) bail.
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