367 new cases, 103 suspects, 70 convicted — NABU & SAPO results for H2 2025
In the second half of 2025, NABU and SAPO reached a new level in exposing corruption in strategic sectors of the economy and defense. Despite Russian aggression, the anti-corruption agencies conducted large-scale operations in the energy sector, uncovered corruption schemes in military procurement, and exposed cases involving high-ranking officials. Twelve top officials were served with suspicions.
As part of Operation “Midas,” a high-level criminal organization in the energy sector was exposed. Its members introduced a so-called “tollgate” scheme — contractors of the state-owned company Energoatom had to give up to 15% of the contract value to receive payment for services rendered. A few days before, an official of an Energoatom branch had been caught on the same scheme.
Officials of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection were notified of suspicion for embezzling over UAH 90 million intended for the procurement of battle drones. A former head of the Luhansk Regional Administration, an MP, and the head of a City Military Administration were exposed for multi-million dollar procurement fraud involving UAVs and electronic warfare equipment. A former head of a state enterprise embezzled over UAH 102 million allocated for tank reactive armor. This marked his fourth suspicion from NABU and SAPO.
NABU and SAPO shut down two organized groups controlled by Members of Parliament. The first group bribed lawmakers to secure "required" votes. The second offered a businessman to arrange NSDC sanctions against a competitor for a bribe of $250,000.
In October, investigators exposed a brazen scheme involving senior tax officials. They facilitated a "money-laundering hub" with a turnover of UAH 15 billion, resulting in UAH 147 million in unpaid taxes.
The head of the Housing and Utilities Department of the Donetsk Regional Administration was served with a notice of suspicion for the embezzlement of UAH 140 million allocated for heating and water supplies in frontline cities.
The head of a Central Territorial Directorate of the Ministry of Defense was exposed for attempting to profit from the construction of housing for military personnel.
Overall, in the second half of 2025:
- 367 new investigations
- 103 suspects
- 55 indictments sent to court
- 126 defendants
- 70 convicted
The economic effect of NABU and SAPO’s work exceeded UAH 4.9 billion, including:
- UAH 762+ million reimbursed to the state
- UAH 216+ million directed to support the Armed Forces
- UAH 3.24 billion saved on UAV procurement for the Defense Forces
- UAH 96+ million confiscated to state revenue
- UAH 672+ million in fines collected to state revenue
- UAH 632+ thousand in forfeited bail
