On 18 June 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a law on strengthening the institutional capacity of ARMA. This decision became the starting point of a comprehensive reform of the National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes and one of Ukraine’s important commitments on the path to European integration within the Ukraine Facility.
However, ARMA reform is not only about changing asset management procedures. Its main goal is to strengthen the state’s capacity to combat economic crime, de-shadow the economy, deprive criminals of their economic base, ensure the recovery of illegally obtained proceeds and provide compensation to victims.
ARMA plays a key role in the full cycle of work with assets derived from corruption and other crimes:
tracing → seizure → identification → management → confiscation or recovery to the owner → compensation to victims.
Over the year of reform implementation, it has been possible to:
- introduce one of the key principles of the reform - open competitive selection of asset managers through Prozorro;
- conduct a comprehensive identification of assets and implement a system for their accounting;
- introduce the division of assets into simple and complex categories and separate mechanisms for selecting managers for each category;
- establish and launch the work of an independent Commission for the selection of managers of complex assets;
- introduce an international audit of the Register of Seized Assets with the support of the Council of Europe;
- ensure the implementation of transparency and accountability standards in line with the requirements of the Ukraine Facility.
One of the results of the first year of the reform has been the formation of a new system for managing seized assets based on transparent rules, procedures and control mechanisms.
Among ARMA’s key priorities:
- ensuring transparency and openness of decisions;
- digitalization of processes and development of electronic services;
- finding, tracing and identification of assets in Ukraine and abroad;
- development of analytical capacity;
- support for investigators, prosecutors and judicial authorities;
- expansion of international cooperation in the field of asset recovery;
- professional training and development of human resources;
- preservation and increase of the economic value of seized assets.
A separate area of work is the international audit of ARMA. The next important stage will be the implementation of audit recommendations, which will contribute to improving the efficiency of the Agency, strengthening trust in the institution and further aligning the asset recovery system with European standards.
Today, ARMA reform is moving from the stage of regulatory changes to practical implementation. The next step should be large-scale implementation of new mechanisms and increasing the economic effect of asset management.
The ultimate goal of the reform remains unchanged - to ensure the effective recovery of assets to the state, the preservation of their economic value, the restoration of justice for victims and the strengthening of Ukraine’s economic security.
We express gratitude to all who supported the implementation and realization of the ARMA reform. This result was made possible thanks to the joint work of the Members of the Parliament of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine, the Government, law enforcement agencies, anti-corruption institutions representatives of business and business communities, the expert environment, civil society and anti-corruption organizations.
Special thanks to Ukraine’s international partners who supported the reform at all stages of its preparation and implementation, provided expert assistance and contributed to the adoption of best European practices.
The ARMA reform is an example of how, through joint efforts of the state, society and international partners, it is possible to build institutions that work to protect the economic interests of the state, the rule of law and justice.
