Issued in Kyiv, November 2025 – We present this urgent public declaration to the international diplomatic community and all allies of the Ukrainian people. As Ukraine endures a brutal external aggression, we cannot remain silent about the internal crisis of governance that endangers our nation’s democratic future. This manifesto is a solemn call to address systemic corruption and abuses of power in Ukraine’s current leadership, to restore democratic accountability through timely elections, to defend the right of peaceful protest, and to uphold human dignity in the processes of mobilization and demobilization. We stand for a Ukraine that honors the rule of law and the inherent rights of its citizens, and we invite the world’s support in this cause.
Systemic Corruption and Abuse of Power
Ukraine’s hard-won democracy is imperiled by pervasive high-level corruption and the overreach of those in power. We urgently call out the systemic corruption and abuse of authority evident in the current leadership. Recent investigations have exposed entrenched graft reaching the highest offices. Notably, an independent anti-graft probe revealed a massive kickback scheme siphoning roughly $100 million from the state nuclear energy company Energoatom. Shockingly, one of the key figures charged in this case is a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, demonstrating that even those at the president’s side have not been above participation in large-scale corruption. Such revelations underscore a culture of impunity that must end.
Equally alarming are attempts to undermine the very institutions tasked with fighting corruption. In July 2025, President Zelenskyy signed a controversial law handing the Prosecutor General sweeping power to control independent anti-corruption agencies. This move – effectively stripping the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) of their autonomy – was widely condemned as a grave abuse of power. It triggered the largest anti-government protests since the war began, with citizens across multiple cities chanting “Veto the law” and “We chose Europe, not autocracy” in defense of their democracy. Critics, from Ukrainian watchdogs to European Union officials, denounced the law as a “serious step back,” warning it dismantles critical safeguards and could turn watchdog agencies into political tools. Although justified by the President as an anti-infiltration measure, this act appeared to many as an attempt to consolidate power and evade accountability.
Even respected figures who have stood at Ukraine’s helm before are sounding the alarm. Those who supported the need for martial law during Russia’s onslaught, yet publicly cautioned against its abuse, accusing the government of using wartime powers not only to defend the country, but to build an authoritarian regime. Such warnings from across the political spectrum underscore a painful reality: the extraordinary powers granted by martial law, meant to protect Ukraine, are at risk of being perverted into tools for political entrenchment. We affirm that martial law must never serve as a cloak for dictatorship. Ukraine’s fight against foreign aggression cannot be an excuse to trample the very democratic principles and institutions that differentiate us from the aggressor.
Therefore, we declare: The systemic corruption and power abuses at the highest levels of government are unacceptable and must be confronted immediately. We call for a renewed commitment to integrity and transparency in public office. All officials – regardless of rank – who are implicated in corrupt schemes or who use their office to shield wrongdoing must be investigated and, if found guilty, removed and prosecuted under the law. Ukraine can only claim its rightful place in the European family of nations by upholding the values of clean governance and accountability. We demand that the President and his administration cease any efforts to undermine anti-corruption agencies or the judiciary, and instead strengthen these bodies as true independent guardians of the public interest.
Demand for Democratic Elections and Lawful Transfer of Power
Democracy is the lifeblood of Ukraine’s statehood. Free and fair elections, and the lawful transfer of power, are non-negotiable even amid crisis. Yet Ukraine has gone for years without scheduled national elections, as the current leadership continues to rule under extended martial law. Under Ukraine’s constitution, both presidential and parliamentary elections have been suspended since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. President Zelenskyy’s term was due to end in 2024 and parliamentary elections were due in 2023, but martial law – renewed in 90-day increments – has indefinitely postponed the nation’s democratic cycle. By law, the President remains in office until a new vote can be held, and the legislature’s mandate is prolonged as well. We acknowledge that holding elections during all-out war poses severe challenges, from security risks to disenfranchisement of millions displaced. Indeed, Ukrainian authorities and international observers have outlined practical impediments to wartime voting, such as dangers of air raids at polling stations and the lack of provisions for absentee ballots for soldiers and refugees. These concerns are real. However, indefinite delay of elections is not a tenable solution. The continuation of power without public mandate risks eroding the government’s legitimacy and the people’s trust over time. Democracy cannot become another casualty of this war.
We therefore demand immediate steps toward restoring the democratic process. The Ukrainian government, in consultation with civil society and international partners, must develop a clear roadmap for conducting national elections as soon as it is feasible. This plan should include legal and technical solutions to hold votes safely – whether that means special polling arrangements, new absentee voting methods for those at the front or abroad, or amending martial law provisions with appropriate checks and balances. The goal must be to hold free elections at the earliest possible opportunity, even if the conflict persists in some form. If a full nationwide election is impossible in the near term, then at minimum there should be a transparent mechanism or interim mandate – grounded in law – to ensure that leadership remains accountable to the people’s will. International election observers and assistance could be invited to help Ukraine navigate this unprecedented challenge, as was cautiously suggested by Ukrainian authorities themselves in discussions earlier this year. What is crucial is a public commitment now to upholding our constitutional order.
We further insist that any transfer of power be lawful and orderly. Ukraine is proud of its record of peaceful, democratic transitions since independence. That tradition must continue. The current leadership must openly affirm that it will relinquish authority to newly elected officials when the time comes, in accordance with the Ukrainian Constitution and the choice of voters. Preparing for this eventual transfer – even in the midst of war – is a sign of strength, not weakness. It will demonstrate to our citizens and to the world that Ukraine remains a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law. It will also undercut hostile narratives that question the legitimacy of our government due to delayed elections. We refuse to hand our enemies the propaganda victory of calling Ukraine a “dictatorship” – the best rebuttal is to prove them wrong with our actions.
In sum, we call for firm guarantees that Ukraine’s democracy will be renewed through elections as soon as possible. The presidency and parliament must not become open-ended positions. By setting conditions and a timetable for elections, Ukraine will send a powerful message: that even in wartime, the government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. We ask the international community to support Ukraine in creating the conditions for this democratic renewal, and to provide expertise, monitoring, and resources to help us surmount the practical obstacles. Ukraine’s fight is not only for survival, but for the European democratic values of government by the people – and on this front, we must not falter.
Support for Peaceful Public Protest and Civil Rights
We unequivocally declare our support for the right of the Ukrainian people to peaceful public protest. The freedom to voice dissent and demand change is a cornerstone of any democracy and is enshrined in Ukraine’s Constitution. Even under the stress of war, and even under martial law, the authorities must remember that they are accountable to the people. Citizens who protest corruption, injustice, or misrule are not “troublemakers” – they are patriots exercising their civic duty to hold leaders to account. We call on the government to respect and protect peaceful assemblies, in full compliance with Ukrainian law and international human rights standards.
Recent events have shown both the power of peaceful protest and the disturbing attempts to stifle it. When the anti-corruption agencies’ independence was threatened this summer, thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa and beyond, chanting for the president to veto the law and uphold our European path. These demonstrations – the largest since the invasion – were a stirring testament that the Ukrainian people will not accept a rollback of their rights and freedoms. We stand in solidarity with those protesters. Their message was clear: our fight against external tyranny must not breed internal tyranny. In the end, public pressure forced a debate and partial reconsideration of that law, showing that civic engagement can yield change even in dark times.
Conversely, we note with alarm instances where peaceful protesters have been met with intimidation or force. There have been reports of authorities reacting harshly to citizens decrying unfair mobilization practices and other grievances. Such heavy-handed responses are unworthy of a free Ukraine. Silencing or criminalizing peaceful critics only deepens public frustration and undermines unity. It also hands a propaganda gift to the Kremlin, which eagerly paints Ukraine as undemocratic. We cannot allow that narrative to become true through our own actions.
We therefore urge Ukraine’s leaders and security services to adopt a posture of restraint and dialogue toward peaceful demonstrators. Legitimate security concerns should not serve as a blanket pretext to quash civil liberties. While unlawful riots or violent acts can be dealt with under the law, non-violent protesters must not be treated as enemies of the state. We call for a review of any martial law decrees or practices that unduly restrict freedom of assembly, and for clear guidelines that distinguish between justified security measures and the suppression of lawful protest. Ukraine’s citizens have repeatedly proven their responsibility and patriotism; we trust them to know the difference between helping the enemy and constructively criticizing their own government. Indeed, our history – from the Orange Revolution to the Revolution of Dignity – shows that patriotic protest is a driving force for reform. To deny this is to deny an engine of progress in our society.
Finally, we call on the international community to recognize and support Ukrainians’ right to speak out. We ask foreign diplomats and human rights organizations to monitor the treatment of protesters and to remind our authorities that democratic freedom is among the values we are all defending in Ukraine. The world’s support for Ukraine should never be confined to military aid; it must also include advocacy for the democratic principles that justify that aid. Together, let us ensure that Ukraine remains a country where the voice of the people cannot be silenced, and where change can be achieved by the strength of moral conviction rather than coercion or fear.
Human Dignity in Mobilization and Demobilization Practices
As war rages, Ukraine has had to mobilize a large portion of its population in defense of the nation. We acknowledge the existential need to field an army against the invader. However, even in mobilization, the human dignity and rights of our citizens must be respected. We are deeply concerned by credible reports of abusive conscription practices and harsh treatment of men – including very young men – under Ukraine’s mobilization campaigns. If we sacrifice our values and the well-being of our people in the name of military necessity, we risk undermining the very society we seek to protect. We insist that Ukraine’s defense be organized in a manner consistent with the rule of law and basic human decency.
Numerous documented complaints and investigations point to serious abuses during mobilization. Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman recorded 3,500 complaints in 2024 and over 2,000 more in 2025 concerning recruitment-center conduct. In Rivne Oblast, investigators say officers pursued a man on a bicycle, used tear gas, and forcibly took him to a recruitment center; official notices describe beatings and forced delivery, while Al Jazeera additionally reports investigators said the officers later volunteered for front-line service to avoid assault charges. In Buchach (Ternopil Oblast) and Baranivka (Zhytomyr Oblast), residents protested after men died following time at recruitment centers; families alleged mistreatment, officials cited medical causes, and investigations were opened. Such incidents violate public trust and the honor of the military; any deaths or injuries linked to enlistment activities must be fully investigated and those responsible held to account.
In October 2024, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General resigned and was then formally dismissed after revelations that dozens of officials—including prosecutors—had obtained disability certificates, which brought pension benefits and could help them avoid mobilization. Parliament voted for his removal, and the president signed the dismissal on Oct 31, 2024.
In January 2025, the SBU detained the Armed Forces’ chief psychiatrist (who also served as deputy head of the central medical commission) on suspicion of illicit enrichment, citing undeclared properties and luxury cars allegedly amassed during the war. Official charges concern illicit enrichment and false declaration; some media have reported allegations that bribes were paid for unfitness determinations, but those claims go beyond the current charge sheet and remain under investigation. Such double standards corrode public morale and violate the principle that all citizens owe equal duty to the nation. Every draft dodger who buys his way out not only betrays his compatriots at the front, but also reinforces the cynicism that corrupt officials profit while honest Ukrainians bleed. We call for a thorough purge of all corruption in recruitment offices and medical commissions. Any officials caught enabling draft evasion for bribes must be brought to justice. Conversely, those ordinary citizens who have legitimate grounds for exemption or deferment should be treated humanely and lawfully, not as potential criminals.
In safeguarding human dignity during mobilization, we also must not forget the issue of demobilization – the fair treatment of those who have served. Thousands of brave Ukrainian men and women have been on continuous active duty since 2022, enduring grueling combat tours with minimal rest. While the exigencies of war have required extending service periods, we urge the authorities to establish a plan for rotating and eventually demobilizing long-serving soldiers wherever possible. Those who have fulfilled their enlistment obligations or whose health has been broken in battle deserve relief and support. We call for clear criteria and transparent procedures for discharging soldiers who have served with honor, and for providing them adequate medical care, rehabilitation, and benefits as they reintegrate into civilian life. The sacrifices of our veterans must be repaid with compassion, not bureaucratic indifference or indefinite conscription with no end in sight. In particular, youth who answered the call in 2022 and have spent their formative years in trenches should have the opportunity to resume their education or careers once conditions allow. Treating our defenders as valued citizens – not merely as resources to be expended – is essential for maintaining morale on the front and trust at home.
We also draw attention to the matter of conscientious objection and personal liberty. Ukraine has an obligation under international human rights norms to respect the right of conscientious objection to military service. We acknowledge that in a national emergency, difficult choices must be made, and our courts have held that wartime does not presently allow alternative service in lieu of mobilization. However, branding all objectors as “draft evaders” and jailing them without consideration of their beliefs is a troubling approach. We urge a more nuanced policy – for example, assign non-combat civil defense roles to those who genuinely cannot take up arms for reasons of conscience. By doing so, Ukraine would uphold its values without compromising its defense. Our fight is for freedom – it gains little to crush freedom of thought and religion domestically in the process.
In conclusion of this section, we call for immediate reforms to ensure that Ukraine’s mobilization is carried out with humanity and fairness. Let military police and recruiters be properly trained and monitored to prevent abuses. Let the use of force against unarmed civilians be categorically forbidden and punished. Let there be transparency in how draft quotas are filled, so no region or group bears disproportionate burden. And let mercy temper justice – families need their fathers and sons alive and healthy for our nation to recover. The young men of Ukraine are not mere cannon fodder; they are the future of our country. We owe it to them, and to the principles for which we fight, to treat them with dignity.
Acknowledging Progress: Anti-Corruption Efforts and Legal Reforms
While we have outlined serious grievances, we also acknowledge and commend recent positive steps taken within Ukraine’s legal system to address corruption and strengthen the rule of law. It is important to recognize these efforts, both to encourage their continuation and to show the world that Ukraine has vibrant internal forces pushing for change. Our demand for reform is bolstered by the proof that change is indeed possible.
Notably, Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption institutions – NABU and SAPO – have in recent months intensified their pursuit of high-level corruption, despite facing political headwinds. The uncovering of the Energoatom kickback conspiracy in 2025 stands as a landmark achievement. After a 15-month investigation involving extensive surveillance, NABU and SAPO exposed how a shadowy network skimmed 10–15% off major state energy contracts. This scheme, run by a “criminal organization” of outsiders, had effectively usurped control of a strategic state enterprise for personal gain. The fact that such an operation could exist is alarming; yet the fact it is now being dismantled is encouraging. We applaud the anti-corruption detectives for having the courage to pursue this case even when it led to the doorsteps of powerful individuals. Among those named as suspects is Mr. Tymur Mindich, a businessman and longtime friend and associate of President Zelenskyy. That NABU moved to charge someone so well-connected is evidence that Ukraine’s institutions can, and will, hold even the highest echelons of power accountable under the law. We note as well that the homes and offices of a sitting cabinet minister (the Minister of Justice, who formerly served as Energy Minister during the period of the scheme) were searched as part of this probe. This sends a clear message: no official is immune from scrutiny. Such actions give hope that the era of untouchable elites is drawing to a close.
We also welcome the investigative actions surrounding corruption in defense procurement, an area of critical importance both for our war effort and for public trust. Following media exposés of overpriced military supplies – scandals that outraged the nation last year – Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies have completed probes and begun proceedings to bring perpetrators to justice. Former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who resigned amid these allegations, has been subject to NABU searches and inquiry over a contract that saw basic food items for soldiers purchased at several times their market price. The infamous “Eggs for 17 hryvnias” affair, in which the Defense Ministry paid nearly triple the retail price for ordinary eggs, is a prominent example of the profiteering that came to light. We acknowledge President Zelenskyy’s response in replacing the Minister of Defense in September 2023 as a necessary first step. Now, the ongoing legal processes must demonstrate that war profiteering – betraying soldiers and country for personal enrichment – will meet with swift and certain punishment. The same applies to any officials involved in the misappropriation of aid funds, military contracts, or humanitarian supplies. Ukraine’s survival depends on the integrity of its wartime governance; every hryvnia stolen is a wound to our defensive capacity and an insult to those on the frontline. The work of NABU, SAPO, and a reformed judiciary in these cases is therefore pivotal. We urge that trials be conducted expeditiously and fairly, and that verdicts, when rendered, reflect the gravity of these crimes.
Another heartening development has been the renewed vigilance of bodies like the National Anti-Corruption Prevention Agency (NACP) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor in vetting officials and enforcing financial transparency. We note the increased number of indictments against judges, military recruitment officers, and regional officials accused of bribery or abuse of office in the past years. The arrest in May 2023 of the then-head of the Supreme Court on bribery charges, for example, signaled that no institution is above the law. Such enforcement of accountability must continue without delay or hindrance, even in wartime.
Crucially, legal reforms must consolidate these gains rather than reverse them. We are encouraged by recent judicial reforms aimed at cleaning up the Constitutional Court appointment process and the ongoing efforts to align Ukraine’s laws with EU anti-corruption standards. However, we stress that attempts to politicize or weaken anti-corruption agencies, as we saw with the July 2025 law, should be permanently abandoned. The public outcry and international backlash to that law made clear that Ukrainians and our partners will not tolerate backsliding. Indeed, the European Union, G7 ambassadors, and other allies have explicitly tied Ukraine’s future support and EU accession progress to maintaining robust independent anti-corruption institutions. We echo this linkage: the fight against Russia’s aggression and the fight against internal corruption are two fronts of the same war for a free Ukraine. Legal reforms should therefore aim to strengthen checks and balances. We call for revisiting any legislation that concentrates excessive power in a single office (such as the Prosecutor General), and for guaranteeing transparent, merit-based appointments for anti-corruption agency heads. We also call for the full empowerment of civil society oversight – Ukraine’s active NGOs and investigative journalists are an asset in monitoring reform progress and must be protected in their work.
To the honest public servants within the system, we offer our support. We recognize those in law enforcement, the judiciary, and government who strive daily to uphold integrity. Your efforts are not in vain; they are changing your country for the better. We encourage you to continue, knowing you have the people’s backing. To those who still cling to corrupt old habits or political interference, we serve notice: the tolerance for such behavior is evaporating. The law will catch up to those who betray the public trust.
Appeal to the International Community
This manifesto is first and foremost a call to action for Ukrainians ourselves – to demand better from our leaders and to live up to our own ideals. But we deliberately address it as well to the international diplomatic community, whose support is vital for Ukraine’s struggle, and whose influence can help ensure our country stays on the path of democracy and good governance.
To our friends and partners around the world, especially the European Union, the United States, the G7, and allied nations: we urge you to stand firmly with the people of Ukraine in these demands. Your support for Ukraine has always been predicated not only on geopolitical interests, but also on the values we share – freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. We ask that you continue to hold our government to those values even as you help us fend off Russian aggression. This means using your diplomatic voices to insist on anti-corruption measures, democratic norms, and respect for civil society. We welcome the candid stance taken by EU officials and other diplomats in July 2025, when you made clear that curbing the independence of anti-corruption agencies was unacceptable. It mattered that you spoke out; it helped reverse a dangerous course. We ask you to maintain that principled engagement.
We also call on international organizations – the United Nations, the OSCE, the Council of Europe – to monitor Ukraine’s adherence to its human rights and democratic commitments during this wartime period. Technical and financial assistance for preparing eventual elections, for judicial reform, and for anti-corruption initiatives will be crucial. Where our domestic capacity is stretched thin by war, your expertise can fill the gap. For example, if special arrangements need to be made for war-time voting or monitoring, begin those discussions with Ukraine’s authorities now. Encourage and facilitate dialogues on how to update electoral laws to allow voting for internally displaced persons and refugees. Ensure that Ukraine’s quest for security does not eclipse its democratic development – indeed, the two must advance hand in hand.
We further urge the international community to support Ukrainian civil society and media. These local watchdogs are essential allies in the fight against corruption and authoritarian tendencies. By providing funding, training, and political backing to independent journalists, anti-corruption activists, human rights defenders, and community organizers, you help amplify the voices of accountability within Ukraine. Authoritarians fear nothing more than a spotlight on their misdeeds; together, we can keep that spotlight shining brightly.
Crucially, we ask that ongoing financial and military aid to Ukraine be accompanied by strong accountability mechanisms. Ukrainian people want every dollar or euro of aid to be used as intended – to bolster our defense and support our people – not to line anyone’s pockets. We therefore support the conditioning of assistance on anti-corruption benchmarks and transparency measures. This is not a “foreign imposition,” but a reflection of what Ukrainians themselves demand. Our soldiers fight and die with honor; let us make sure our officials serve with honor as well. International partners can help by continuing to audit aid flows, by helping Ukrainian institutions implement robust anti-graft safeguards, and by swiftly calling out any abuses they detect. Such vigilance is a form of solidarity.
Finally, to all nations that have stood by Ukraine, we express our profound gratitude. Your solidarity has been a lifeline. We ask you now to also recognize that the Ukraine you are defending is not just a piece of territory, but an idea – the idea of a free, democratic, and just nation. Help us ensure that, even as we repel tyranny from without, we do not succumb to rot from within. Help us ensure that Ukraine emerges from this war not as a broken polity or an autocracy-by-default, but as a stronger democracy – a nation worthy of the sacrifice of its heroes and the support you have given.
Conclusion
In the spirit of hope and resolve, we conclude this manifesto with a solemn vow: Ukraine shall remain true to itself. We will not allow the darkness of war to extinguish the bright flame of liberty and justice that inspired our independence and our popular revolutions. We, the people of Ukraine, pledge to hold our leaders accountable to the highest standards of democratic governance, even as we unite against the invader at our gates. We ask, in return, that our leaders remember their sacred obligation to serve the nation, not themselves.
The road ahead is undeniably difficult. Reforms and elections during wartime are daunting tasks. But the character of a nation is forged in its most trying hours. Let the world note that in this time of trial, Ukraine chooses not to abandon democracy, but to deepen it; not to paper over corruption, but to confront it; not to silence its people, but to empower them; not to demean human dignity, but to uphold it even amid sacrifice.
We call on every Ukrainian official, soldier, and citizen to reflect on what distinguishes us from the enemy we fight. It is our respect for human life, for law, and for each other. It is our belief that government exists to serve the people, not rule them. It is our certainty that a free Ukraine, governed by justice, is the only Ukraine worth fighting for. Let this manifesto be a reminder and a warning: the eyes of our own people and of the world are upon those in power. Great nations are built on accountability and trust – and Ukraine will be one of the great nations.
With faith in our people and gratitude to our international partners, we affirm that Ukraine’s democracy will prevail. We invite all who read this declaration to join us in action: to demand integrity from those who govern, to support the brave souls who speak truth to power, and to never lose sight of the fundamental values that define Ukraine. Together, we will secure not only Ukraine’s territorial freedom, but also its moral and political freedom. And in so doing, we shall deliver on the promise of the Maidan and the aspirations of generations: a Ukraine that is free, dignified, and united on the pillars of democracy and the rule of law.
Signed: (This declaration is endorsed by patriotic Ukrainian citizens, civil society representatives, and public figures committed to the nation’s democratic future.)
Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!) — May this glory shine not only on the battlefield, but in the halls of governance and in the lives of our people, now and forever.
Leave a Reply