Final of the Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0: From Online Game to Real Investigation

The Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0 reached its most thrilling stage — the offline final. After two months of online play, where 139 students from across Ukraine tested their knowledge and anti-corruption skills in a dialogue-based game, it was time for real action. On September 16–18, 2025, the seven best-performing teams gathered in Lviv to face new challenges and compete for the winner’s title.

Out of 41 participating teams, the following made it to the final:

• Those Who Do NOT Quietly Go into the Woods (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University)
• Control.UA (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, National University “Odesa Law Academy,” Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University)
• Juris Oratores (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University)
• Alik and Liolik (Poltava Law Institute of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University)
• Dnipro Anti-Scheme Squad (University of Customs and Finance)
• Anti-Corruption Corruption Committee (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)
• (Non)-Corruptionists (Poltava Law Institute of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University)

During the online stage, participants found themselves at the fictional Vinnytsia Shipbuilding Institute — a university with transparency issues and suspicious administrative schemes. Playing as fictional characters, they had to navigate corruption scenarios and find a way out. But in Lviv, there were no “what ifs.” Finalists became detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). No longer behind screens or solving test tasks, they now faced real witnesses and informants, worked with procedural documents, and worked under tight deadlines while conducting investigations.

The offline final lasted three days, but it felt as busy and emotional as a whole semester. The students searched for clues, questioned witnesses, conducted interrogations and searches, drafted procedural documents, and even reached a hearing at the High Anti-Corruption Court. All of this took place under pressure, with every minute counting and teamwork playing a central role.

Three Days of the Final: Stories, Challenges, and Discoveries

Day one began with introductions. Teams that had only seen each other in Zoom squares finally met in person — smiling, determined, slightly nervous, but fully ready to compete. Their energy and drive for victory could even be felt in their slogans:

• “Act precisely. Act confidently. Control.UA.”
• “Anti-Corruption Corruption Committee: honesty in words, confidence in actions.”
• “Alik and Liolik never give up.”
• “Juris Oratores: Young orators of justice. Here to win.”
• “Every scheme has its Dnipro Anti-Scheme Squad.”
• “(Non)-Corruptionists — a team of trust.”
• “Those Who Do Not Quietly Go into the Woods — almost like Bihus (an independent Ukrainian investigative media project that exposes corruption and abuse of power), but without bags of cash in top officials’ trunks.”

Their first mission was to reconstruct the full picture of events at the fictional Vinnytsia Shipbuilding Institute. Using a map and clues, teams tracked down characters who helped them piece together a timeline and uncover the university’s  main corruption scheme: the rector planned to sell off university property for personal gain. Unlike the online stage, where characters lived only in chat windows, now real people stood in front of them — so it was important not only to listen, but also to “read between the lines.”

From there, the finalists continued their work as NABU detectives. They performed tasks that closely reflected real investigative steps: registering a crime report, interrogating witnesses, approving covert investigative actions, filing motions with an investigating judge, cooperating with the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), and searching a car during a bribe handover.

Everything felt as real as possible: authentic protocol forms, a specially created open-data register, even a recorded video of the car search. And just like in real life, it all came with stress, time pressure, and the need for strong teamwork.

“Simulating the work of detectives — from registering a crime report to choosing preventive measures — was a unique experience. It let us truly feel part of the process and better understand how law enforcement and courts function. It was engaging, dynamic, and as realistic as it gets. This format motivates you to grow professionally and realize the weight of every decision you make,” shared Anna Zubar (Control.UA team).

Of course, mistakes were unavoidable. What looks simple in law often turns into a series of practical details. Some teams got stuck while searching for evidence, others had difficulties with witnesses, and some struggled with drafting documents correctly. But the goal wasn’t perfection. The Quest was about showing how anti-corruption mechanisms really work and letting students experience the complexity of investigations, where every step must be legal and justified.

The final act was a moot court. Teams took on the role of prosecutors in the rector’s case, arguing for preventive measures. This time, the character really did hear a decision for pre-trial detention — and students experienced what classrooms so often lack: the realization that their knowledge can be applied in practice.

“We weren’t just running from task to task — we were reflecting on how corruption affects our lives and what each of us can do to counter it. The most valuable part was the involvement of practitioners. You could feel that the organizers wanted us to leave with real knowledge and experience, not just tick off assignments,” said Tetiana Khailo, Mariia Yarmolenko, Alina Vitsko, and Oleksandra Tsesar (Non-Corruptionists team).

Judges and Experts

The soundness of decisions and accuracy of team actions were assessed by experts from Ukraine’s key anti-corruption institutions:

• Olha Malyk, Prosecutor at the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO);
• Aliona Khylko, Head of Education, NACP Integrity Office;
• Oksana Vozniuk, Judge of the Bila Tserkva City District Court (formerly Assistant to the Head of the High Anti-Corruption Court).
• They were joined by NABU detectives.

Also contributing were experts who strengthen Ukraine’s culture of integrity:

• Oksana Bronevytska, Chair of the Board, NGO Foundation for Institutional Development, Associate Professor at Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, and attorney;
• Olena Karpova, expert in whistleblowing culture and whistleblower protection, NGO Foundation for Institutional Development

Judging wasn’t just about points. Perhaps the most valuable moments came afterward — in informal conversations, where experts discussed mistakes, gave advice on acting more confidently, and shared their own experiences.

“I want to thank the judges and experts. Personally, I received well-reasoned feedback on my area of responsibility in our team’s work. Despite their impressive achievements, the judges were approachable and sincere… What stood out most were the constructive comments, clearly explained to us,” said Ilona Lukianenko (Dnipro Anti-Scheme Squad).

Who Came Out on Top

Based on all tasks, the top three teams of the Anti-Corruption Quest were announced:

Winner: Anti-Corruption Corruption Committee — Vasyl Vasylenko, Karina Nedosnovana (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University), Olha Zadorozhnia (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv)

Second Place: Juris Oratores — Valeria Romaniukha, Khrystyna Pereima, Serhii Haiboniuk (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University)

Third Place (shared): Dnipro Anti-Scheme Squad — Olha Synchyshyn, Mykyta Dremliuha, Ilona Lukianenko (University of Customs and Finance); Control.UA — Anna Rachok (National University “Odesa Law Academy”), Sofiia Kotelchuk (Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University), Anna Zubar (Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University)

Congratulations to the winning team — and gratitude to all participants for their commitment, perseverance, and energy, which drove the Quest throughout the three days of the final. Special thanks also go to the judges, experts, and partners, whose expertise and support made the Anti-Corruption Quest possible!

According to the Quest’s founder and chief coordinator, Mariia Tsypiashchuk, the idea was for it to be not just a game, but a formative experience: if participants ever face corruption in real life, they will know exactly how to act — without hesitation.

The Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0 proves that combining education, gameplay, and serious topics is not only possible but necessary. This format helps participants understand how anti-corruption systems work, apply that knowledge in practice, and — most importantly — feel that they themselves can be part of the system.

Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0 — 2025 is organized by the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine  in partnership with Bot&Partners, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and financial assistance from the Government of Sweden.