President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing mounting criticism both at home and abroad after signing a controversial law that removes the autonomy of Ukraine’s two key anti-corruption agencies—the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
The law, passed by Ukraine’s parliament by 263 votes to 13, places these independent institutions under the authority of the Prosecutor General, an official directly appointed by the president. The European Union condemned the move as a “serious step back,” warning it may jeopardise Ukraine’s aspirations to join the bloc. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated on social media that the law dismantles essential safeguards and undermines the credibility of Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework.
Mass protests erupted in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa, marking the most significant domestic demonstrations since the 2022 Russian invasion. Protesters gathered outside government buildings, expressing outrage over what they perceive as a centralisation of power and political interference in corruption investigations. The Anti-Corruption Action Centre warned the law would allow the Prosecutor General to halt investigations into the president’s inner circle, potentially shielding allies from scrutiny.
This is not the first time Zelenskyy has faced corruption-related backlash. Allegations involving his aide Andriy Tatarov, accused of facilitating a bribe, were dismissed under questionable procedural grounds in 2022. Additionally, a ₴10 billion (approximately $260 million) military procurement scandal and inflated contracts under the “Great Construction” infrastructure programme have further eroded public trust.
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Critics argue that these moves point to a broader pattern of weakening oversight and consolidating power. While Zelenskyy has taken public action against oligarchs like Ihor Kolomoisky and initiated sanctions against former political rivals, concerns persist over the selective enforcement of anti-corruption efforts.
Zelenskyy has defended the latest reform, claiming it will improve the speed and efficiency of investigations and help remove lingering Russian influence. However, civil society organisations and international watchdogs like Transparency International remain sceptical, describing recent raids on NABU as an attempt to intimidate and undermine the institution’s independence.
Ukraine ranked 105th in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, an improvement from 144th in 2013, but the current developments risk reversing that progress. As one anonymous European diplomat put it, “Is it a setback? Yes. Is this a point of non-return? No.”
Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba summed up the national sentiment: “Now the President has a choice—to stand on the side of the people or not.” As Ukraine’s democratic institutions are tested under the strain of war and reform, the direction President Zelenskyy chooses will shape both domestic stability and international confidence in Ukraine’s path to European integration.
