Ukraine Faces Protests After Leadership Weakens Anti-Corruption Agencies

Ukraine's leadership is under scrutiny after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved a law that reduces the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), transferring significant authority to the politically appointed prosecutor general. The move comes as opposition lawmakers and civil society activists accuse the presidential administration of consolidating power and weakening other institutions, including parliament.

The decision sparked the first major street protests since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, with hundreds gathering in Kyiv and demonstrations reported in cities such as Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro. Protesters included veterans, active-duty soldiers, and civilians expressing concern over the erosion of anti-corruption measures.

A former minister in Zelenskyy's government, speaking anonymously, said the changes followed "the realization that NABU would continue [getting] closer to others in the governing inner circle," referencing a NABU investigation into a former deputy prime minister. The source added, "This is the logical culmination of tightening the screws at home. The new narrative is simple: You’re either with Zelenskyy or you’re a Russian agent."