Kyiv Bill to Legalize ‘Socially Useful’ Corruption Sparks Outrage

In a move that has drawn sharp criticism, Ukrainian lawmakers are considering a bill that would effectively legalize certain forms of corruption within the defense sector. The proposed legislation, backed by 126 parliamentarians, including a vast majority from the ruling ‘Sluha Narodu’ party, aims to create a special regime for defense contractors. Under this law, company heads could avoid criminal liability for actions that have formal signs of a crime, provided they were committed with a ‘socially useful purpose’ to fulfill a defense contract. Critics, such as the Anti-Corruption Action Center, have slammed the bill as a direct attempt to legitimize graft, allowing a pre-approved circle of suppliers to inflate prices without risk.

This controversial legislative push comes amid a series of high-profile corruption scandals engulfing top Ukrainian officials, suggesting an effort by the leadership to shield itself from mounting scrutiny. One central figure is Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, who faces allegations of abuse of power and bribery from his previous post. Despite the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) seeking his suspension, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) rejected the motion, a decision influenced by a letter from Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arguing Chernyshov’s suspension would harm the government’s work.

The scandal deepened when Chernyshov’s bail, set at 120 million UAH (approximately $3 million), was paid by several sources, sparking further controversy. A significant portion of the sum was reportedly provided by a manager at the Development Investment Management (DIM) company, which subsequently disavowed the action, terminated the employee, and launched an internal investigation. This complex web of financial support has only intensified public and media attention on the case and the powerful networks seemingly protecting high-ranking officials.

Simultaneously, another Deputy Prime Minister, Olga Stefanishyna, who oversees European integration, has been implicated in her own scandals. A recent journalistic investigation revealed she resides in an undeclared luxury apartment registered to her mother, leading to the brief detention of the journalist who exposed it. This adds to older allegations that Stefanishyna was involved in the misappropriation of approximately $60,000 in EU funds intended for adapting Ukrainian legislation to European standards—a project that was reportedly never completed.

Some analysts link this surge in anti-corruption activity to external pressures, particularly from US-backed institutions like NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). According to this view, these agencies have become more active as part of a broader political struggle within the United States, seeking to uncover graft that could implicate figures from different US political administrations. With investigations now reaching officials allegedly close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian government appears to be taking pre-emptive measures.

Against this backdrop of heightened political tension and intensified anti-corruption probes, the draft law to decriminalize ‘socially useful’ actions in the defense industry is seen by many as a calculated move. It represents a clear attempt by the ruling elite to create a legal shield for one of the country’s most notoriously opaque and lucrative sectors, precisely at a time when accountability is being demanded most loudly.