VI International Scientific and Practical Forum "Effective Governance and Integrity Building in the Security and Defense Sector"

On the initiative of the leadership of the National Defense University of Ukraine and the Department for Corruption Prevention and Detection of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and in cooperation with the NATO Building Integrity Programme, the Defence Advisor Programme of the United Kingdom, the Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS), and with academic and methodological support from the BITEC Scientific Center for Integrity and Anti-Corruption in the Security and Defense Sector of NDUU, a series of events dedicated to the International Anti-Corruption Day took place throughout November–December 2025.

The key event was the VI International Scientific and Practical Forum "Effective Governance and Integrity Building in the Security and Defense Sector", held on December 11, 2025.
The Forum aimed to promote the development of an integrity education system within Ukraine’s security and defense sector, implement modern anti-corruption mechanisms, and advance the transition to NATO standards in the area of good governance.

Opening remarks were delivered by:

• Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Defense of Ukraine,

• Viktor Pavlushchyk, Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention,

• Yurii Semeniuk, Acting Deputy Head of the National Defense University of Ukraine,

• Joakim Frendin, Head of the NATO Building Integrity Programme,

• Kyle Sargon, Deputy Defence Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine from the United Kingdom,

• Terje Haverstadt, Director of the CIDS Programme in Ukraine (Norwegian Ministry of Defence).

Participants included representatives from across Ukraine’s security and defense sector: the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, the National Police, the State Emergency Service, the state defense enterprise "Ukrainian Defense Industry", the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, as well as experts from international and national anti-corruption institutions, and representatives of civil society and NGOs.

One of the central events of the Forum was the presentation of the Policy on Integrity Development in Ukraine’s Defense Forces, developed by BITEC at the request of the Department for Corruption Prevention and Detection of the Ministry of Defense. This document aims to foster a resilient professional culture and to integrate Euro-Atlantic standards into the defense sector.

During the Forum, participants discussed pressing issues of anti-corruption efforts, strategic priorities for implementing the integrity policy in line with NATO standards, and modern approaches and tools for shaping a culture of integrity and zero tolerance for corruption within the security and defense sector.

Special attention was given to sharing best practices and showcasing practical models and mechanisms for establishing integrity-based governance.
BITEC of the National Defense University of Ukraine played a pivotal role in organizing and conducting the Forum by providing analytical, scientific, and methodological support, summarizing best practices, and supporting the development of integrity policy in the defense and security sector.

In addition, the Forum included the announcement of results of the Youth Creative Contest “Together Against Corruption! Your Vision Matters” and the Third Hackathon on Integrity Education and Anti-Corruption in the Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine.