The first RESPOND online seminar, organized by the Anti-Corruption Research and Education Centre (ACREC) at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, brought together academics and practitioners to examine the relationship between political corruption, digital transparency tools, and democratic resilience in wartime Ukraine.

Key conclusions/insights:

1. Corruption as a Threat to Rule of Law Resilience

Drawing on a rule-of-law resilience framework, Oksana Huss emphasized that corruption acts as a systemic stressor. Institutional corruption weakens the core of the rule of law, political corruption undermines democratic legitimacy, and the weaponization of corruption discourse erodes public trust. In wartime, these vulnerabilities may be exploited by external actors, including through strategic influence and hybrid tactics.

Ukraine’s response, particularly the establishment of specialized anti-corruption institutions and enhanced political finance oversight. demonstrates that anti-corruption measures are necessary for resilience. However, anti-corruption alone is insufficient without a broader integrity ecosystem (NABU, NACP and HACC). Oksana noted that Ukraine’s post-2014 institutional architecture represents an innovative model of specialized anti-corruption enforcement. Still, safeguarding independence and public trust remains critical, particularly under wartime pressures.

2. Wartime Rent-Seeking and the Social Dimension of Corruption

Marharyta Chabanna highlighted how wartime conditions intensify rent-seeking risks due to simplified procedures, concentrated decision-making, and large-scale resource flows. Such practices threaten defense capacity, distort markets, weaken international confidence, and undermine social cohesion.

Empirical data presented by her during the seminar show strong public support for digital public services and growing digital literacy. This creates favorable conditions for digital oversight mechanisms to strengthen trust, provided they remain transparent and accessible.

3. Political Finance Transparency as a Long-Term Institutional Investment

Vita Dumanska from the CHESNO Movement highlighted the launch of the digital political finance register “Polidata” as a major milestone. Over a decade in development, the system has transformed political finance transparency in Ukraine by enabling open access, structured reporting, and analytical tools for journalists, researchers, regulators, and citizens. However, Vita stressed a central lesson: transparency does not automatically equal accountability. Effective oversight depends on enforcement capacity, investigative journalism, civic engagement, and political will. Digital systems empower actors, but do not substitute institutional responsibility.

4. Digital Tools as Accountability Infrastructure

Anastasiia Mazurok demonstrated practical examples of how digital systems such as ProZorro (public procurement) and DREAM (reconstruction and public investment tracking) reduce corruption risks by (1) creating full digital footprints; (2) enabling automated risk analysis; (3) allowing real-time civic monitoring; (4) increasing reputational and legal costs of misconduct. 

Concrete monitoring cases showed measurable financial savings and the initiation of criminal proceedings. These platforms illustrate how digital transparency, when combined with civic oversight and institutional response, can produce tangible accountability outcomes even during war.

During the Q&A session, participants discussed the security narrative as a potential justification for closing registers and limiting oversight. While certain restrictions are legitimate for defense reasons, civil society vigilance remains essential to prevent unjustified rollbacks. Advocacy campaigns, international partnerships, and public pressure were identified as key counterbalances.

Overall Takeaway

The seminar concluded that Ukraine’s experience demonstrates a crucial insight:

Digital transparency tools can strengthen democratic resilience in wartime, but only when embedded in a broader ecosystem of institutional integrity, civic engagement, and political accountability.

Transparency is a long-term investment. It shifts incentives, redistributes information power, and increases oversight capacity. Yet resilience ultimately depends on maintaining public trust, safeguarding independent institutions, and ensuring that digital openness translates into enforceable accountability.

The discussion underscored that Ukraine’s experience offers important lessons not only for post-war recovery but also for democracies globally facing corruption, authoritarian tendencies, and hybrid threats.

Watch the seminar on our YouTube channel.