OI: Ukraine has a strong foundation in creativity and technology, and this potential should be leveraged more effectively within its AFC regime. We need to understand that for almost four years Ukraine has not only been fighting on the front line, but also aligning its standards with the EU and international standards. This places Ukraine in a unique but challenging position.
Ukraine’ s electronic public procurement system, Prozorro, 7 has become a flagship example of transparency and accountability in government spending. Launched in 2016, Prozorro was designed to combat corruption by making all public tenders fully open and accessible to the public in real time. Even during wartime, it has adapted to ensure transparency in defense and humanitarian procurement, reinforcing public trust in government spending.
Although financial crime cases have occurred in Ukraine, the country is undertaking significant efforts to overcome this problem. One prominent example is new legislation 8 on the stronger monitoring of politically exposed persons, which was introduced in October 2023 and falls in line with the standards of FATF. 9 The law imposed a risk-based approach, which will enhance Ukraine’ s institutional capacity to expose money laundering and corruption threats.
Ukraine was the first country in the world to make beneficial ownership 10 information publicly accessible via a register aligned with FATF standards.
Since recovery from the war’ s damage is taking place despite the shelling, Ukraine is also working on creating a transparent Digital Restoration EcoSystem for Accountable Management( DREAM). 11 This platform enables international donors to access information on reconstruction projects and monitor the allocation of funds.
Ukraine is expected to take further steps to improve the implementation of reforms within the requirements of the Ukraine Facility Plan, 12 the EU’ s financial assistance program. Ukraine will only receive this financial support after complying with these necessary reforms.
AT: What life lessons have you learned as a result of your AFC career and your experience living in Ukraine during the Russian invasion?
OI: One eye-opening realization for me has been about the people behind policymaking. I used to think that policymakers and experts were distant and difficult to reach. But the more I’ ve engaged, the more I’ ve come to see the individuals behind the titles. Many are open, supportive and genuinely willing to help.
Many of us work through sleepless nights under the constant stress of Russian attacks. So, it’ s more important than ever to recognize the human behind the role and that can change everything.
On a personal level, life doesn’ t always go the way we plan, but it’ s still important to find joy in what we do, especially when there might be no tomorrow. That’ s why it means so much to me that my work can be helpful to others during these incredibly challenging times.
AT: What do you like to do when you are off the clock?
OI: I like hiking and I do it often in the Ukrainian Carpathians. I hiked on my birthday because I like a good adventure. Also, I like sports and I’ ve been actually swimming for 13 years ― and I continue to do it now alongside yoga, reading and going to theaters. My hope is that everything will be better soon so we can have some part of our lives back.
Interviewed by Karla Monterrosa-Yancey, CAMS, editor-in-chief, ACAMS, editor @ acams. org
1
Oksana Ihnatenko,“ Shaping Tomorrow: A Roadmap for Ukraine’ s Reconstruction using Virtual Assets,” RUSI, July 3, 2024, https:// www. rusi. org / explore-our-research / publications / policy-briefs / shaping-tomorrow-roadmap-ukraines-reconstruction-using-virtual-assets
2
“ Ideathon on Financial Crime,” Center for Financial Integrity, https:// cfi-ua. org / ideathon-on-financial-crime /
3
“ Task Force on Public-Private Partnership,” Center for Financial Integrity, https:// cfi-ua. org / task-force-on-ppp /
4
“ Labor force, female(% of total labor force),” World Bank Group, https:// data. worldbank. org / indicator / SL. TLF. TOTL. FE. ZS? utm _ sourc
5 "
Women’ s situation in the labour market,” European Commission, https:// commission. europa. eu / strategy-and-policy / policies / justice-and-fundamental-rights / gender-equality / women-labour-market-work-life-balance / womens-situation-labour-market _ en
6
“ Ukraine Refugee Crisis: Aid, Statistics and News,” USA for the UNHCR, https:// www. unrefugees. org / emergencies / ukraine /? SF _ monthly = 7011K000002O2a3QAC & SF _ onetime = 7011K000002O2ZyQAK
7
“ Prozorro homepage,” Prozorro, https:// prozorro. gov. ua / en
8
Oksana Ihnatenko,“ PEPs in Ukraine? It’ s complicated,” RUSI, January 22, 2024, https:// www. rusi. org / explore-our-research / publications / external-publications / peps-ukraine-its-complicated
9
“ Latest Reports,” Financial Action Task Force, https:// www. fatf-gafi. org / en / home. html
10
Alanna Markle,“ Early impacts of public beneficial ownership registers: Ukraine,” Open Ownership, February 1, 2022, https:// www. openownership. org / en / publications / early-impacts-of-publicbeneficial-ownership-registers-ukraine /? trk = article-ssr-frontend-pulse _ little-text-block
11
“ DREAM,” Digital Restoration EcoSystem for Accountable Management, https:// dream. gov. ua / ua
12
“ Economic Support Program,” Ukraine Facility, https:// www. ukrainefacility. me. gov. ua / en /
ACAMS Today | September – November 2025 37