Kazarin: Ukraine can jail a minister every year, but corruption will remain

Ukrainian journalist Pavlo Kazarin, who has served in Ukraine's armed forces since the start of the full-scale war and is now sergeant major of the 2nd battalion of the 104th Unmanned Systems Brigade, discussed recent corruption scandals in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, including the so-called "Dynasty" case and investigations involving Mindich and Halushchenko.

Kazarin argues that when investigations lead to suspicions and criminal cases, it shows the country still has a functioning mechanism to defend itself against corruption. He contrasts this with Belarus, where the absence of anti-corruption bodies and scandals masks what he believes would be a far higher real level of corruption.

At the same time, Kazarin warns that the disconnect between elites and society, along with double standards, dangerously affects morale within the army. He says the government avoids open discussion of mobilization, service terms, and military pay because these are unpopular topics. In his view, Ukraine's political class remains focused on winning the next election rather than ensuring the country survives long enough to hold one.

Protests and Fedorov's dismissal

Kazarin speaks favorably of last year's and this year's so-called "Cardboard Maidan" protests, which defended the anti-corruption bodies NABU and SAP, as well as the recent wave of protests following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. He believes the protests were not really about one person but about a "theft of hope": after his successful record digitalizing government services, Fedorov became a symbol of hope for reform in the defense sector, only to be dismissed without explanation.

Kazarin notes that the Defense Ministry manages a third of the state budget, making scandals there nearly inevitable due to human error. He is skeptical of Fedorov's post-dismissal call for elections, citing polling that shows most Ukrainians do not want elections even in the event of a temporary ceasefire.