Ukraine’s fronts are not only in the war

Each approaching winter since 2022, besieged Ukrainians have braced for more Russian attacks on the energy installations they rely on to survive the harsh cold of the Eurasian steppe. This year, they are confronting two additional jolts: Anti-corruption agencies have revealed high-level graft, with the equivalent of $100 million siphoned off from funds intended to defend this very same energy infrastructure. And many Ukrainians are discomfited by reports of a U.S.-Russia “peace plan” – initially drafted without Ukraine’s involvement.

United States and Ukrainian representatives held talks on the plan in Geneva on Sunday. But some Ukrainian officials believe the timing of the plan’s announcement was designed by the U.S. to use the corruption crisis to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into concessions. European leaders have also expressed concerns about the plan’s reported allowances for Russia. “Ukraine may find itself facing a very difficult choice – either loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said shortly before the Geneva meetings. 

Both challenges, now intertwined, have deep implications for the survival and viability of a nation that sees its future tied to the West. All former Soviet republics – including both Russia and Ukraine – carry a legacy of corruption from communist rule. But in its bid to entrench democracy and join the European Union, Ukraine has made major strides toward accountable and honest governance, especially in the integrity of its antigraft fighters, though there is still more to do.

“We cannot afford for ... Ukrainian authorities to lose the remnants of legitimacy during the war,” economist and banker Serhiy Fursa posted on social media. To avert “despair and political discord,” he wrote, “the authorities must respond ... appropriately. It’s in their interest – and ours.”

Even amid wartime exigencies, Ukrainians maintain a robust insistence on the rule of law. In July, young people came out in force to protest a move to strip the main anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence – a plan that was quickly reversed.

The country’s two main anti-corruption bodies have publicly shared findings from their 15-month “Operation Midas” – including images of opulent apartments, gilded bathrooms, and bags of cash. While Mr. Zelenskyy is not implicated in the alleged wrongdoing, a friend and former business partner of his was identified as a mastermind and has fled the country. Ukraine’s parliament has dismissed the energy and justice ministers. And a senior prosecutor stepped down over an internal probe into investigation leaks.

In a statement citing Russian strikes and power outages, Mr. Zelenskyy said, “It is extremely difficult for everyone.” He also described the corruption scandal as “absolutely abnormal,” adding, “We all need to protect Ukraine.”

Note: This article was updated Nov. 23 to include mention of the Ukraine-US talks in Geneva, Switzerland.