The article investigates the problems of the spread of complex socio-economic phenomenon-money laundering in Ukraine. The attention is focused on the results of the fifth round of mutual evaluation of Ukraine in the sphere of AML by the Committee of the Council of Europe MONEYVAL and conclusions on the lack of effectiveness of the national mechanism of combating money laundering in Ukraine. The necessity of monitoring and conducting appropriate macroeconomic and criminological analysis on the basis of scientific knowledge of the phenomenon of «money laundering», the factors of its manifestation and spread in Ukraine. As a methodology for the study of money laundering in Ukraine as a socio-economic phenomenon, the application of phenomenology based on the combination of the philosophical method of knowledge of the phenomenon in reality based on the essential characteristics of its nature, and criminology — the doctrine of crime. The results of the survey of specialists of the law enforcement system in the field of anti-money laundering are chosen as an empirical basis. The analysis covers several groups of indicators, in particular, characterizing the spread of money laundering in the country as a whole, and the vulnerability of individual sectors of the economy. Attention is focused on the significant spread of the phenomenon of money laundering in Ukraine, as evidenced by 84.5% of respondents, and the most vulnerable is determined by the credit and financial sector (82.0%). Based on the use of a special group of indicators, the analysis of the connection of money laundering with other socially dangerous socio-economic phenomena: corruption, the shadow economy, capital flight, organized crime and the like. The article focuses on the extreme demand of corrupt officials on laundering of corruption revenues, as noted by 85.4% of respondents. It is concluded that it is necessary to introduce fundamental changes regarding the system of combating money laundering in Ukraine.