THE SYSTEM OF ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES AND COMPLIANCE IN UKRAINE’S DEFENCE SECTOR: INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE FIELD OF DEFENCE PROCUREMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

This article provides a theoretical and legal analysis of the system of anti-corruption measures and compliance in Ukraine’s defense sector, focusing on their implementation in the field of defense procurement under martial law and in the context of European integration processes. The author argues that the current transformation of the defense sector, driven by full-scale armed aggression and the need to adapt to NATO and EU standards, is creating new requirements for the legal framework of the state’s anti-corruption policy.

It is determined that the main problem in the studied area is the existence of a structural contradiction between the secrecy regime of defense information and the imperative of transparency in the use of public finances, which objectively complicates the implementation of effective anti-corruption mechanisms. It is demonstrated that traditional anti-corruption tools are insufficient under conditions of closed arms procurement procedures, which necessitates a transition to a preventive model of anti- corruption compliance.

The paper proposes a concept for a multi-level anti-corruption control system covering all stages of a defense contract, including planning, contractor selection, contract conclusion and execution, as well as auditing. The author pays particular attention to the institutionalization of due diligence procedures for contractors, the implementation of risk-based approaches to evaluating procurement operations, and the use of digital technologies as a tool for ensuring transparency and accountability.

At the same time, the author justifies the feasibility of incorporating anti-corruption provisions into the text of defense contracts as a mandatory element of legal regulation, thereby transforming the principle of integrity into a matter of legal liability. Separately, the paper emphasizes the need to create a mechanism for verifying beneficial owners and to introduce the institution of «debarment» as a means of preventing unethical entities from participating in procurement.

In conclusion, it is noted that the effectiveness of anti-corruption compliance in Ukraine’s defense sector directly depends on the level of its institutional autonomy, the digitization of procedures, and the integration of international control standards. The model proposed in this study has practical significance for improving national legislation, harmonizing it with the EU acquis communautaire, and increasing trust in the defense procurement system among both international partners and society at large.


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