Ukrainians are standing up for democracy and do not tolerate corruption. Citizens took part in a peaceful “Cardboard Maidan” protest, despite the threat of missile attacks and provocations, to defend anti-corruption institutions. This is a marker of societal maturity. The first results followed swiftly. The NABU and the SAPO announced the most high-profile case to date, leading to the resignation of the Head of the Presidential Office and two ministers. This opens the possibility for launching a process of systemic cleansing in public administration. The Government and Parliament may regain their agency.

While NABU and SAPO continue to perform their functions, there are concerns regarding NACP, which forms the backbone of the anti-corruption framework. Parliament may support legislation with high corruption risks, while NACP remains inactive. This undermines Ukraine’s agency. In the context of Russian disinformation, trust in Ukraine must remain unwavering.

Under these conditions, citizens have become a barrier to corruption, capable of collecting more than 25,000 signatures in a single day on a petition to the President calling for a veto of harmful legislation. However, their voices are not being heard. There remains hope in the courts, which are mandated to protect citizens’ interests in accordance with the Constitution. Yet this challenge cannot be resolved by the HACC alone.

We appreciate the support of our donors and partners, the EED and the NED. Continued reforms and a stronger role for civil society are essential to Ukraine’s democratic development and European integration.