Corruption, like environmental degradation, does not respect international borders. The article explores the effects of corruption on the environment in Ukraine in recent decades. The main aim of this study is to analyse the historical record to understand the effect of domestic and foreign corruption on the environment of Ukraine. The key result of our work is the presentation of compelling case studies from the 20th and 21st centuries, which prove the connection between corrupt authorities and environmental degradation. Using the example of the undemocratic regimes of the Soviet Union and the period of Yanukovych’s presidency, the adverse effects of the abuse of power for private gain on the environment are explored. The article also discusses the effect of the kleptocratic Russian regime’s war on environmental degradation in Ukraine as an example of the global impact of corruption on the environment.