On April 16, 2015, the President of Ukraine signed decrees establishing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and appointing Artem Sytnyk as its first Director. This marked the beginning of a new page in Ukraine’s history: the creation of a state institution dedicated to investigating high-level corruption.
By December of the same year, NABU detectives had registered their first three criminal proceedings in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, targeting large-scale embezzlement schemes involving state-owned enterprises. Since then, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have continuously increased their operational effectiveness. In 2024 alone, NABU detectives launched nearly 700 new investigations, including cases in critically important sectors such as defense and energy.
“We are very impressed by the results achieved by NABU’s dedicated staff. They do incredibly important work often under very difficult conditions. We are proud to have NABU as a key partner of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative. Our cooperation goes far beyond one-off projects — it is a long-term, systemic partnership aimed at strengthening NABU’s institutional and investigative capacity so its employees can stay focused on their core mission: investigating high-level corruption cases”
Allan Pagh Kristensen, Head of the EUACI comments.
IT Support
One of the most notable examples of this cooperation is the launch of the eCase MS — an electronic case management system. This platform integrates NABU, SAPO, and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) into a single digital ecosystem. Today, over 1,500 proceedings are registered in the system. The eCase saves detectives around 200 work hours annually, €20 per motion submitted from NABU’s central office, and €200 per motion from regional offices.
Training and Knowledge Exchange
The EUACI continues to invest in the professional development of NABU personnel. We organize training sessions, international study visits, and capacity-building programs. Recent examples include criminal analysis training at Poland’s Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, a visit to Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service, financial investigation training in Italy, and a study tour to The Hague focused on IT solutions in criminal investigations.
Strengthening Independence and Capacity
EUACI has also supported legal reforms aimed at reinforcing NABU’s status. In 2021, NABU became a central executive authority with special status, and a new, transparent procedure for selecting the Director was introduced. With the EUACI’s and other partners’ support, international experts were included in the selection commission. Semen Kryvonos was appointed as NABU’s new Director in March 2023.
HR Policies
The EUACI supports NABU’s efforts to modernize its HR systems, including the creation of a dedicated Human Resources Development Unit and the promotion of gender equality. One of the latest initiatives in this area is launching the Women’s Leadership Program at NABU, which includes coaching, mentorship, and strategic leadership skills development. With support from EUACI and UNICEF, NABU also opened its first on-site room for employees’ children.
Youth Projects
We believe that the new generation will play a vital role in building a culture of integrity. That’s why the EUACI supports initiatives like NABU’s Anti-Corruption School and the All-Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Moot Court (VAM*). In 2024, more than 300 students chose to spend their summer vacations not relaxing but learning at NABU’s School, which was held fully offline in Kyiv for the first time and included internships at the Bureau. The VAM* has already engaged over 1,500 young legal professionals from across Ukraine and received an honorable mention from the World Justice Project. Additionally, the EdEra online education studio developed two seasons of the interactive game “NABU Investigates,” supported by EUACI, which lets anyone try their hand at being a detective.
Independent External Assessments
In 2024, NABU began undergoing an independent audit, which is still ongoing. The EUACI, together with the American partners, provided technical support to the Audit Commission, including assistance for its Kyiv-based secretariat, a team of legal analysts, and logistical support for the auditors.
🎉 On the occasion of NABU’s 10th anniversary, we express our sincere gratitude to the detectives, analysts, technical, and administrative staff of the Bureau for their dedication and outstanding contributions to the fight against corruption.
