The fight against crime in Ukraine is led by the Ukrainian Police and certain other agencies. Due to the hard economic situation in the 1990s, the crime rate rose steadily to a peak in 2000. Following this peak, the crime rate declined, until 2009. In that year, the world financial crisis reached Ukraine.
In 2017, the situation with regard to crime started to improve. The preliminary crime data for 2020[1] are the lowest in a decade.
Statistics
year
crimes
victims
grave crimes
underage crimes
murders
prisoners
2010
500 902
321 228
178 947
17 342
2 356
147 716
2011
515 833
343 159
171 119
17 846
2 506
154 027
2012
443 665
302 563
145 733
14 238
2 261
154 029
2013
563 560
426 651
156 131
8 781
1 955
147 112
2014
529 139
393 532
154 216
7 467
4 389
126 937
2015
565 182
412 689
177 855
7 171
3 004
73 431
2016
592 604
444 617
213 521
5 230
1 726
69 997
2017
523 911
374 238
198 074
5 608
1 551
60 399
2018
487 133
344 780
167 986
4 750
1 508
57 100
2019
444 130
301 792
140 468
4 088
1 428
55 078
2020
Comparison of major crime indicators per 100 000 population, 2019.
In 2010, Ukraine had a murder rate of 4.3 per 100,000 of population.[2] There were a total of 1,988 murders in Ukraine in 2010.[2] In 2017, 0.3% of Ukrainian crime was homicide.[3] In 2016 the Ukrainian police investigated 1,707 murders and, in 2017, 1,397.[3]
Bribes are given to ensure that public services are delivered either in time or at all.[7] Ukrainians have stated they give bribes because they think it is customary and expected.[7][8] According to a 2008 Management Systems International (MSI) sociological survey, the highest corruption levels were found in vehicle inspection (57.5%), the police (54.2%), health care (54%), the courts (49%) and higher education (43.6%).[9] On 8 June 2011, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych stated that corruption costs the state budget US$2.5 billion in revenues annually and that, through corrupt dealings in public procurement, 10 to 15% (US$7.4 billion) of the state budget "ends up in the pockets of officials."[10]
In May 2018, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid stated that corruption is the primary factor holding back the development of Ukraine and that it can only be resolved with a strong political will, after a meeting with the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), Artem Sytnyk.[14]
Theft
Kyiv police investigating a burglary in May 2014.
In 2017, the main segment of crime was theft, representing a 52% proportion of the total crimes in Ukraine.[3]
Terrorism
According to official statistics there were 126 acts of terror on Ukrainian soil every month in 2014, 108 in 2015, 155 in 2016 and 124 in 2017.[15]
From 2014 until late 2017, 5,804 criminal cases were registered as 'acts of terror', or 129 terrorist attacks per month, on average. In this time-frame, 15 persons were convicted on charges of terrorism.[15]