DISINFO: All Ukrainian presidents and elites have plundered the country's wealth
SUMMARY
The entire policy of all the presidents and the entire political elite of Ukraine was oriented toward two things: the first was an orientation toward the West, and the second was simply the plundering of their own country's wealth.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine. Describing Ukraine as the most corrupt or failed state is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative, the aim of which is to undermine Ukraine's credibility.
Present-day Ukraine has been on the world map since 1991 when the Soviet Union disintegrated. It has elected six presidents since then and changed parties in government several times, which illustrates political diversity and democratic dynamics even during economic hardship in the wake of Russian aggression in 2014.
Ukraine was far from being the most corrupt state in the world according to Transparency International in 2023 (ranking 104/180 while Russia is behind at 141/180). However, even this level of corruption is a concern for foreign aid and reforms to reduce it are made in the exceptional full-scale war situation. The Association Council between the EU and Ukraine stated for instance on 5 September 2022:
"The Association Council welcomed the steps that Ukraine had taken thus far with regard to reforms in the sphere of anti-corruption, fighting against fraud, anti-money laundering and rule of law and urged Ukraine to pursue further efforts in these areas. It stressed the paramount importance of ensuring the independence, effectiveness and sustainability of the anti-corruption institutional framework and avoiding politicisation of the work of all law enforcement agencies. The Association Council welcomed the major steps taken by Ukraine towards a comprehensive reform of the judiciary in 2021 and the appointment of the new Head of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office while emphasising the urgent need to complete the selection of the new Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the reform of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU), including a clear and transparent competitive selection process for judges."
Since 2012 Ukraine has improved its abilities to combat corruption. Since 2014, the key anti-corruption institutions have been created. Ukraine has also implemented key legislation that prevents misuse of public money (electronic public procurement system established) and improves state governance (paperless governance, improved administrative services for citizens).
If in 2016, Russia and Ukraine shared the worst (131) rank in Europe according to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, now Ukraine ranks 104, while Russia-141. Ukraine has constantly improved its situation since 2012, while in Russia, the corruption level is getting worse.
See similar cases in our database: Ukraine is the most corrupt country in the world, helping it is suicide; Ukraine became a poor, corrupt, failed state controlled by the West; Ukraine is the most corrupt country in Europe; Ukraine holds the first place in corruption ranking in Europe.