A few days ago I called Oleksandr Abakumov, a senior detective at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. I wanted to ask him about his investigation into a kickback scheme in his country's energy industry. While we were talking, I got interested in Abakumov himself. As he was explaining his motivations, I was struck by the surprising contrast between people like him'the Ukrainian civil servants and civil-society activists who have been demanding transparency from their leaders for two decades'and the American and Russian negotiators who met this week in Moscow, perhaps to decide Ukraine's fate. Ukraine is fighting for its survival. Drones and missiles hit Ukrainian cities most nights. Many Ukrainians nevertheless want, even now, to have a government that's accountable to the public. Meanwhile, American and Russian kleptocrats are circling the country, looking for ways to make deals that benefit themselves. Abakumov's career was directly shaped by his country's history....
learn more
