ACAMS Today( AT): What drew you toward a career in anti-financial crime( AFC)?
Oksana Ihnatenko( OI): I don’ t think I ever planned to work in this field. Before university, I was torn between studying law and journalism ― and only now do I realize how perfectly I’ ve combined both in the AFC space, which requires skills from both areas. A turning point in my career came at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, when I became deeply interested in sanctions. One of the areas I explored was the seizure of frozen Russian assets. This topic really changed everything for me. Until then, I had mostly worked on financial issues from a private-sector perspective, and corporate finance. But diving into sanctions opened an entirely new world for me: the world of AFC, and its powerful role in advancing justice, accountability and resilience.
AT: Could you tell readers about a couple of the most exciting or interesting activities that you were involved in for the SMURF project?
OI: SMURF was a project initially set up by the CFS at RUSI by my colleagues back in 2022 because they wanted to help Ukraine during the wartime. The idea was first to support experts on the ground and raise more national capacity in this field. I joined the project in 2023. I became the person who worked with them from Kyiv and we started to look at the financial system from other perspectives. At that time, we realized that we needed to focus more on the systemic issues and how we could support Ukraine from a long-term perspective.
I had been working on research titled“ Shaping Tomorrow: A Road Map for Ukraine’ s Reconstruction
Using Virtual Assets.” 1 In this research, I looked at how virtual assets can be used to facilitate donations for Ukraine’ s urgent reconstruction efforts and how such a mechanism can be built ― especially in Ukraine’ s context.
Another example is our work with youth in the“ Financial Integrity Platform ― Young Leaders Chapter.” 2 We engaged youth across regions, giving them a chance to share their interest in AML and provide our insights to inspire them toward a career path in this field. We then organized an Ideathon( similar to a hackathon) in Kyiv, with 22 participants from different Ukrainian regions. The jury selected two winners who were awarded study trips to London, where they met our CFS / RUSI experts, as well as some Ukrainian policymakers.
Another example is the Taskforce on Public-Private Partnership in Fighting Financial Crime in Ukraine, co-led by CFI and CFS. This unique platform fosters dialogue and offers expert advice to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors. It brings together 50 experts from Ukraine and abroad to develop joint solutions and exchange knowledge on key issues, such as virtual asset regulation. 3
AT: What was the inspiration or driver for establishing the CFI? What do you want the center to achieve?
OI: The SMURF project is run by the CFS at RUSI. I lead a separate sister organization of RUSI in Ukraine ― the CFI. However, we work in cooperation with each other, pitching many projects together.
My colleagues at RUSI ― Kinga Redlowska and Tom Keatinge ― have been incredible supporters along this journey. Without them,
I wouldn’ t have been able to do this. I’ ve learned so much from them and from RUSI as a British institution, which has helped me broaden my perspective. I was inspired by their work!
At the same time, I see how our work at CFI can make a real difference for policymakers, the private sector, youth and women. Because of the war, we have plenty of international support and many partners who are actually willing to cooperate with Ukraine or work inside of Ukraine to transform the system.
Looking ahead ― perhaps ambitiously ― I would love to see CFI become a leading voice on AML for diverse audiences. What I want the center to achieve is to become a trusted, dynamic platform that bridges expertise, policy and practice in the fight against financial crime ― both in Ukraine and beyond.
AT: Why has it been important for you to engage youth and women in the fight against financial crime?
OI: I believe we now have a generational opportunity in Ukraine ― one that we must not miss. Despite the tragedy, it has brought unprecedented international support and solidarity from our allies. As ordinary Ukrainians, we have a unique chance to use this momentum to transform the system. Change should begin with the youth, because they are the ones who will be rebuilding the country and shaping its future.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia over the past three years has led to a significant loss of expertise in key sectors with pre-existing gender imbalance. Male-dominated sectors, such as AML and law enforcement( LE), have been particularly affected by the war. In 2021, the labor force participation rate among females in
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