The reform of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BEB), which includes the appointment of the new head Oleksandr Tyvynskyi, is a key part of Ukraine’s commitments to the EU and the IMF. It aims to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the agency, which will contribute to improving the business climate, attracting investments, and increasing trust in the country’s economic system. An audit of the BEB revealed significant gaps in its functioning that require immediate resolution.
This is reported by Finway
Transformation Strategy and Current Challenges of the BEB
Oleksandr Tyvynskyi, who worked as a detective at NABU before his appointment, emphasizes that the BEB is primarily an analytical law enforcement agency: 75% of its activities are focused on analytics, while 25% are on operational work. Among its priorities are creating equal conditions for business, ensuring investment security, and providing transparency in international technical assistance. Tyvynskyi notes that the bureau is currently undergoing a transformation, both internally and in its relations with the business community. A dialogue with stakeholders has already begun to ensure effective interaction and support for the country’s economic security.
“We are studying the current problems, seeking the most effective format of interaction, where we will ensure economic security while helping businesses perform their work,” detailed the head of the BEB.
At the same time, a re-certification of personnel is underway, along with the development of IT infrastructure for working with big data, and the improvement of the regulatory framework to minimize corruption risks. However, the audit revealed numerous challenges: a lack of adequate funding for 2026, employee salaries that are 60% lower than those in other law enforcement agencies, and staffing that is only a quarter complete. Due to a limited budget, the BEB cannot attract enough qualified specialists from either the public or private sectors. The work with the evidence base is also complicated by a lack of technical equipment.
Combating the Shadow Economy and International Cooperation
Among the key tasks of the BEB is combating smuggling, particularly in the mobile phone import segment, where up to 80% of products enter the market illegally. Special attention is also paid to bringing nearly ₴1 trillion out of the shadows, a significant portion of which is related to excise goods – cigarettes, alcohol, and fuel. In the shadow cigarette trade alone, the turnover reaches ₴25 billion, while shadow salaries amount to up to ₴500 billion.
The Bureau plans to focus its efforts on sectors that form the basis of the shadow economy and work on legislative changes to de-shadow the business environment and increase budget revenues. Another important direction is creating an ecological business environment where all investors operate under equal and transparent conditions, which was the main goal of establishing the BEB.
International cooperation also plays a significant role in the BEB’s strategy. A separate deputy head of the agency is responsible for interaction with the OECD and other international structures, as economic crimes often have a cross-border nature. The BEB aims not only to investigate crimes but also to protect investments and strengthen foreign partners’ trust in Ukraine’s economy.
Despite the existing difficulties, Oleksandr Tyvynskyi is confident in the potential of the BEB and his team to create a favorable environment for doing business and attracting investments to Ukraine.
