The report by the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General does indeed highlight some of the challenges Ukraine faces in its anti-corruption reforms. Overall, however, the document praises Ukraine’s efforts to reform its institutions.
Russian media continue to manipulate the narrative surrounding Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the European Union. Citing the U.S. Department of Defense’s inspector general, Russian outlets claim that the Pentagon has allegedly recognized Ukraine as “one of the most corrupt countries,” suggesting that this is an “obstacle to the country’s integration into the EU and NATO.
Russian media produced manipulative reports following the publication of the Pentagon’s Special Inspector General’s quarterly report for July-September 2024. The report devotes a section to anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of Defense indeed highlighted concerns about corruption, stating that “Ukraine’s corruption and rule-of-law concerns will be the country’s primary impediment to post-war economic recovery and attracting foreign investment.” The inspector also noted that “corruption continues to complicate Ukraine’s efforts to achieve its EU and NATO aspirations.” Russian propagandists latched onto these two sentences, ignoring the subsequent sections of the report detailing Ukraine’s key successes in anti-corruption reforms, elaborated over four pages of the report (pp. 66–70). Overall, the document praises Ukraine’s progress in reforming its institutions.
Russian media omitted the Pentagon’s recognition of “Ukraine’s “deep commitment” to tackling corruption, evidenced through the country’s efforts to strengthen independent anti-corruption institutions and implement reforms aligned with EU and international norms.” According to the inspector’s findings, Ukraine is strengthening its civil society, democratic and economic institutions and implementing anti-corruption, judicial and corporate governance reforms “to achieve sustainable momentum toward Euro-Atlantic integration to win a secure and just future that delivers prosperity for all its citizens.”
The Pentagon also highlighted Ukraine’s efforts to root out corruption in the defense sector. The inspector noted that Ukraine has undertaken “reforms to enhance transparency and accountability, such as defense procurement, corporate governance, human resource management, professional military education, logistics, and democratic civilian control of the military,” the report said.
In addition, the Pentagon reiterated its rejection of persistent Russian narratives about the misuse of military and humanitarian aid provided by allied nations.
“State in late August said that there remains no credible evidence of illicit diversion of U.S.-provided defense equipment, direct budget support, or humanitarian assistance from Ukraine—even as Russia spreads disinformation to the contrary, according to a diplomatic cable,” the report concludes.
Russian media have repeatedly pushed manipulative narratives claiming that Ukraine suffers from “widespread” corruption. A similar analysis can be found in StopFake’s article Fake: Pentagon Uncovered Ukrainian Military Supplies Corruption.
