Remembering 2013, That’s the Real News
by Benjamin Cook
Last night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law what appeared to be a reversal of years of hard work to combat corruption in Ukraine. Almost immediately, Ukrainians took to the streets in protest—across the country. No one stopped them. No one was shot.
Today, Zelensky tried to explain the move as necessary to keep Russian influence out of the Ukrainian government. But he gave no concrete examples of how removing autonomy from two semi-independent anti-corruption bodies—NABU and SAP—would prevent Russian infiltration in Kyiv.
Sensing an opportunity, the Kremlin and its American proxies pounced. Russian state media, and the usual chorus of bad-faith actors in the U.S., rushed to frame the story in a way that was both pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian. (You have to wonder—if Ukraine framed its war effort as keeping illegal immigrants (Russia) out, would MTG and Charlie Kirk suddenly change sides?)
So what’s the real takeaway here?
First, Ukraine inherited a deeply entrenched Soviet and post-Soviet culture of corruption. This is not a problem solved in a few years—or even a few decades. It’s the work of generations. And while Zelensky might be right about the underlying risk, he’s chosen the worst possible solution—if he’s telling even part of the truth. Gutting the semi-autonomous structure of Ukraine’s top anti-corruption agencies doesn’t send a signal of reform. It sends a signal that you’re part of the grift.
As for the dutiful right-wing idiot patrol in the U.S.—they’re not serious actors. They’re just fighting to remain relevant. Ignore them every chance you get.
Finally, as someone who watched a Ukrainian government turn snipers and kidnap-squads on its own people in 2013, the protests I saw yesterday were nothing short of beautiful. Peaceful, proud, unafraid. That’s the real news. That’s the real takeaway. Freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are both necessary parts of a Liberal Democracy. The war continues. On both fronts. One facing off against Russia. Another facing off against corruption.
Benjamin Cook continues to travel to, often lives in, and works in Ukraine, a connection spanning more than 14 years. He holds an MA in International Security and Conflict Studies from Dublin City University and has consulted with journalists and intelligence professionals on AI in drones, U.S. military technology, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) related to the war in Ukraine. He is co-founder of the nonprofit UAO, working in southern Ukraine. You can find Mr. Cook between Odesa, Ukraine; Charleston, South Carolina; and Tucson, Arizona.
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Mr. Cook’s Substack:
I'm Ukrainian.
It's funny seeing people in the West being in full meltdown and denial mode about Zelensky. Media in the West created this cult of personality of Zelensky - he's the new Jesus Christ, he can do no wrong. And hell even if he does and you point it out you either get called a russian bot or "but but war... so he can do whatever he wants".
I lost respect for Zelensky when he allowed conscription officers in Ukraine to abuse their power and kidnap men in the middle of the day. And then his internal politics, playing political games in times war(sanctioning his political opponents like Poroshenko) and then saying "omg guys unity is important". Zelensky can go fuck himself.
Also btw the new bill also allows police to enter private property without a warrant or court order or anything. Democracy at its finest.
+1 for the statement that get away from post-Soviet, corruption thinking is the work of (more) generations . Finally, corruption will never perish, it's "just" a matter how big the corruption is. So, the fight with that is never ending. But also "fight with corruption" should not be misused to limit or abandon democracy. (That's how Lukashenko came into power in Belarus.)
And the current U.S.A. example shows, how easy and fast is to slip into corruption schemes and thinking - for politicians and business, too. Easy to get in, hard to get out. People in U.S. do not understand that Trump's damage would not go away next election even when he (or his companions) loose.