Defense Ministry Expands Military Personnel's Right To Report Corruption

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Ukrinform reports this, citing the Defense Ministry.

“The new bill provides that military personnel who identify possible instances of corruption or corruption-related offenses, as well as other violations of the Law of Ukraine 'On Prevention of Corruption,' will have the right to submit reports to authorized anti-corruption units or officials,” the ministry said.

Under the current version of the Disciplinary Statute, military personnel may file complaints only in cases involving unlawful decisions by commanders concerning them personally, violations of their rights, or unlawful disciplinary action.

“A military whistleblower may not be dismissed from service, forced to resign, subjected to disciplinary action, or otherwise subjected to adverse measures because of their report. The bill also introduces a provision allowing military whistleblowers to receive incentives in accordance with the requirements of Section II of the Disciplinary Statute,” the Defense Ministry said.

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The bill provides military personnel with the right to independently choose reporting channels: internal channels (the Unified Whistleblower Reporting Portal and dedicated hotlines); regular channels (reports to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, National Police, National Anti-Corruption Bureau, State Bureau of Investigation, or prosecutors); and external channels (reports to media outlets, civil society organizations, or trade unions).

Serhii Stepanyan, a colonel in the military justice service and director of the Defense Ministry's Department for Corruption Prevention and Detection, stressed that adopting the bill is necessary to provide legal protection for military personnel who report corruption in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“These amendments will increase transparency within military structures, strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms, and guarantee reliable protection for whistleblowers against possible retaliation or pressure,” Stepanyan said.

For the bill to take effect, it must be considered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and subsequently signed by the President of Ukraine.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, the Verkhovna Rada, on June 10, adopted amendments to the 2026 state budget in the second reading and as a whole, primarily aimed at increasing spending on the security and defense sector. In particular, security and defense expenditures were increased to UAH 4.4 trillion.

Ukrinform photos are available for purchase her.

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