The ESBU will coordinate the finalization of the draft Financial Investigations Strategy

 Pavlo Buzdyhan, Deputy Director of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, and Oleksii Serhieiev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, held an interagency meeting on preparing the Strategy for Financial Investigations in the Field of Combating Criminal Offenses. The development of the document is outlined in the Comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Reform of Law Enforcement Agencies as Part of the Security and Defense Sector of Ukraine for 2023–2027 and the Rule of Law Roadmap.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the results of the work on the document, recommendations from international experts, and further steps to complete the preparation of the Strategy.

According to Pavlo Buzdyhan, financial crimes have long become part of modern hybrid threats, which is why approaches to detecting and investigating them must also change.

The Financial Investigations Strategy is not just a document. It is about enabling state authorities to share information faster, locate illicit assets more quickly, and respond more swiftly to new schemes. Today, it is speed and coordination that determine the effectiveness of financial investigations, emphasized Pavlo Buzdyhan.

The strategy aims to update approaches to financial investigations, improve information sharing among state agencies, strengthen the capabilities of law enforcement bodies in tracing illicit assets, and expand international cooperation. A specific emphasis is placed on enhancing mechanisms for the tracing, seizure, and recovery of illegally obtained funds and property.

During the preparation of the document, recommendations from international experts and the approaches necessary to bring the Ukrainian financial investigation system closer to European standards were also taken into account.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to jointly petition the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to designate the Economic Security Bureau as the coordinator for the finalization of the draft Financial Investigations Strategy, given the ESBU’s competence in combating economic and financial offenses. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine also expressed its readiness to support the ESBU during the document’s finalization and subsequent interagency cooperation.

Moving forward, the ESBU will work with the developed materials, consultation results, and proposals from international partners alongside other state authorities and the expert community.

The Financial Investigations Strategy is intended to help make the financial investigation system more efficient, strengthen the fight against illicit assets, and bring Ukrainian approaches closer to European standards.