Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a contentious bill that places two of the country’s key anti-corruption bodies under the control of the prosecutor general, prompting widespread domestic protests and expressions of concern from Western allies.
The new legislation grants Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko—widely seen as a Zelensky loyalist—the authority to oversee and potentially terminate investigations conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
In a national address on Wednesday, Zelensky defended the law, arguing that the move was necessary to eliminate what he described as “Russian influence” within the agencies. “There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been ‘hanging’ for years,” he said. “The prosecutor general will ensure the inevitability of punishment for those who break the law.”
The law has triggered a backlash both at home and abroad. Kyiv witnessed its largest anti-government protest since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, with thousands demonstrating against what they see as a rollback of post-Euromaidan democratic reforms. Protests also erupted in Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, with demonstrators carrying signs that read “We chose Europe, not autocracy” and “My father did not die for this.”
Critics argue that the legislation undermines the independence of agencies established to combat entrenched corruption following the 2014 Euromaidan uprising and the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The European Union, which has tied Ukraine’s membership aspirations to robust anti-corruption and judicial reforms, issued a sharp rebuke. “The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU’s independence is a serious step back,” said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. EU spokesperson Guillaume Mercier added that Ukraine’s access to financial support hinges on demonstrable progress in transparency and good governance.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka sought to calm fears, saying he had assured EU officials that “all core functions remain intact,” and that the government remains committed to fighting corruption.
Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticized the move as a misstep, calling it “a bad day for Ukraine” and warning that Zelensky risks alienating the very people and partners who have supported the country through its ongoing war with Russia.
While G7 nations have not threatened to withdraw financial or military assistance, their ambassadors have requested high-level discussions with Ukrainian officials regarding the future of NABU and SAPO.
The timing of the law’s passage—days after raids by Ukrainian security services at NABU offices, citing alleged Russian infiltration—has further fueled skepticism that the government is seeking greater political control over once-independent institutions.
As Ukraine continues its bid for EU membership, the pressure is mounting on the Zelensky administration to demonstrate that its commitment to democratic reform and transparency remains firm, even amid wartime challenges.
