Crime in Ukraine explained

The fight against crime in Ukraine is led by the Ukrainian Police and certain other agencies. Due to the hard economic situation in the 1990s, the crime rate rose steadily to a peak in 2000. Following this peak, the crime rate declined, until 2009. In that year, the world financial crisis reached Ukraine.

In 2017, the situation with regard to crime started to improve. The preliminary crime data for 2020[1] are the lowest in a decade.

Statistics

yearcrimesvictimsgrave crimesunderage crimesmurdersprisoners
2010500 902321 228178 94717 3422 356147 716
2011515 833343 159171 11917 8462 506154 027
2012443 665302 563145 73314 2382 261154 029
2013563 560426 651156 1318 7811 955147 112
2014529 139393 532154 2167 4674 389126 937
2015565 182412 689177 8557 1713 00473 431
2016592 604444 617213 5215 2301 72669 997
2017523 911374 238198 0745 6081 55160 399
2018487 133344 780167 9864 7501 50857 100
2019444 130301 792140 4684 0881 42855 078
2020
Comparison of major crime indicators per 100 000 population, 2019.
countrymurder rateincarceration rate
Ukraine3.4131
Poland0.7179
Germany0.963
Greece0.9108
Russia5.4316

Crime by type

Murder

See also: List of countries by intentional homicide rate.

In 2010, Ukraine had a murder rate of 4.3 per 100,000 of population. There were a total of 1,988 murders in Ukraine in 2010.[2] In 2017, 0.3% of Ukrainian crime was homicide.[3] In 2016 the Ukrainian police investigated 1,707 murders and, in 2017, 1,397.

Corruption

See also: Corruption in Ukraine.

Corruption is a widespread and growing problem in Ukrainian society.[4] [5] In 2014's Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine was ranked 142nd out of the 175 countries investigated (tied with Uganda and the Comoros).[6]

Bribes are given to ensure that public services are delivered either in time or at all.[7] Ukrainians have stated they give bribes because they think it is customary and expected.[7] [8] According to a 2008 Management Systems International (MSI) sociological survey, the highest corruption levels were found in vehicle inspection (57.5%), the police (54.2%), health care (54%), the courts (49%) and higher education (43.6%).[9] On 8 June 2011, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych stated that corruption costs the state budget 2.5 billion in revenues annually and that, through corrupt dealings in public procurement, 10 to 15% (US$7.4 billion) of the state budget "ends up in the pockets of officials."[10]

According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the main causes of corruption in Ukraine are a weak justice system and an over-controlling, non-transparent government combined with business-political ties and a weak civil society.[11] Corruption is regularly discussed in the Ukrainian media.[12] [13]

In May 2018, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid stated that corruption is the primary factor holding back the development of Ukraine and that it can only be resolved with a strong political will, after a meeting with the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), Artem Sytnyk.[14]

Theft

In 2017, the main segment of crime was theft, representing a 52% proportion of the total crimes in Ukraine.[3]

Terrorism

According to official statistics there were 126 acts of terror on Ukrainian soil every month in 2014, 108 in 2015, 155 in 2016 and 124 in 2017.

From 2014 until late 2017, 5,804 criminal cases were registered as 'acts of terror', or 129 terrorist attacks per month, on average. In this time-frame, 15 persons were convicted on charges of terrorism.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Кримінал – у 2020 рівень злочинності в Україні знизився на 17% — Cуспільне Новини. 10 February 2021. suspilne.media. uk.
  2. https://www.unodc.org/gsh/en/index.html Global Study on Homicide. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013.
  3. https://www.unian.info/politics/2324289-national-police-chief-the-number-of-mob-bosses-in-ukraine-has-increased-many-fold-russias-fsb-is-often-behind-this.html National Police Chief: Number of mob bosses in Ukraine has increased many-fold... Russia’s FSB is often behind this
  4. http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/15780/ UAH 1.5 b in budget funds embezzled since year-start, interior minister says
  5. http://www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/Press-Release/2011/Ukrainians-Pessimistic-about-Countrys-Future-Confidence-in-Political-Leaders-Falling.aspx Ukrainians Pessimistic about Country’s Future; Confidence in Political Leaders Falling
  6. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/237633.html Ukraine remains most corrupt country in Europe – Transparency International
  7. http://www.acus.org/docs/071016_Corruption,%20Democracy,%20and%20Investment%20in%20Ukraine.pdf Corruption, Democracy, and Investment in Ukraine
  8. http://www.10iacc.org/content.phtml?documents=602&art=303 Press release
  9. Global Corruption Report 2008 , Transparency International, Chapter 7.4, p. 280.
  10. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/118032/ Under Yanukovych, Ukraine slides deeper in ranks of corrupt nations
  11. http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADK247.pdf CORRUPTION ASSESSMENT: UKRAINE
  12. http://www.ukrainatv.com/index.php?fuseaction=files.one&id=15131&catid=14 Shuster Live – How to fight with corruption in Ukraine. Consequences of corruption in an army – 2
  13. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/44054/print/ Corruption Plague
  14. News: Estonian President in Ukraine: Combating corruption requires political will. ERR. 23 May 2018. ERR. 14 June 2018. en.
  15. https://www.unian.info/society/2323501-analysts-on-terrorist-attacks-in-ukraine-fewer-but-more-violent-and-symbolic.html Analysts on terrorist attacks in Ukraine: Fewer but more violent and symbolic