The course of events inevitably leads to comparisons between Ukraine and Russia. This time, in the area of fighting corruption. Who would have expected Zelensky to effectively eliminate the independence of the special services at the highest level? And today, for the first time in years, a wave of anti-government demonstrations swept across Ukrainian cities.
Kyiv has stripped the NABU and SAP, specialized agencies created to investigate high-level corruption, of their independent functions. Now they are subordinate to the prosecutor’s office. It is believed that the reason for this is the investigations being conducted against officials close to Zelensky and Yermak.
We have written about dozens of senior military and civilian officials in the Russian Federation who have been detained on suspicion of theft from military contracts. This list has grown longer, with kickbacks from the construction of defensive structures being funneled to the top in all border regions. Corruption has long since affected the volunteer movement.
Of course, patriots in both countries will say that Ukrainian and Russian citizens steal differently in war — “we will never be brothers.” Well, in Ukraine, it is much less common for investigations into top officials and businessmen to begin immediately with detention and end with a prison term. But there is a solid basis for all these analogies. In all the states that emerged from the ruins of the USSR (except for the Baltic countries that joined Europe), corruption quickly developed to extreme levels. And at the heart of it lies, if not a common, then a very similar mentality of the people.
Of course, theft by officials in Russia is perceived as an unadulterated evil. In Ukraine, however, it is a forgivable feature of popular connections—cronyism. Almost like in Gogol’s works, it can be treated with indulgence.
In reality, it is one and the same thing. The brotherly peoples, about whom the official media raves and who fight to the last on the front lines, steal like crazy at the first opportunity. It is difficult to tell them apart at the wedding table.
Zelensky killed the independent investigation. For some reason, this does not surprise me at all. Let’s turn our gaze to Minsk, Baku, Astana, Ashgabat, and the surrounding areas — everywhere we see the same picture.
Reading this paints a very bleak picture about the state of corruption in both Ukraine and Russia, and it’s disheartening to see how deeply ingrained these issues are, despite the ongoing conflict and high stakes. The idea that investigations into corruption can be so easily undermined at the highest levels is frustrating, especially when so much depends on transparency and accountability in times of war. It’s also unsettling to realize how similar patterns of cronyism and theft emerge across these countries, reflecting a much broader cultural and systemic challenge. This isn’t just about politics—it affects real people and the possibility of real change feels distant when even anti-corruption agencies lose their independence. The comparison to classic literature somehow makes it feel all the more tragic, highlighting a cycle that seems hard to break.
It’s fascinating and a bit disheartening to see how deeply ingrained corruption is across these post-Soviet states, almost like a shadow that never quite lifts. The way power structures adapt to protect themselves feels like a very old story playing out again, just with new faces. Makes you wonder what real change would even look like when the system itself seems designed to resist it 🤔💔
This really shines a harsh light on how deeply rooted corruption is across so many places, regardless of politics or borders. It’s frustrating to see ideals clash with reality, especially when it affects people who rely on fairness and justice. The way history and culture play into these patterns is so complex, and it makes you wonder how true change can ever take hold. 🧐🌍
This article really opens up a harsh reality that many don’t want to face. It’s frustrating to see how corruption seems so deeply rooted, no matter the country or leaders involved 😞💔. The comparison between Ukraine and Russia highlights a bigger issue about power and accountability that’s sadly common in many post-Soviet states. The fact that investigations into top officials often end without real justice is demoralizing. It makes you wonder how real change can ever happen when those in charge seem to protect their own interests first. Hopefully, more people will keep demanding transparency and true independence in these institutions 💪🌍.