Ukraine’s chief prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko resigned at the end of September after anti‑corruption investigators uncovered a money‑laundering scheme linked to illegal call centres operated under his office.
The National Anti‑Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap) reported that funds were channelled to protect call centres that ran phone‑scam operations, with proceeds used to buy property and luxury goods.
Kravchenko’s resignation letter cited his desire to prevent his position from being used as a “tool for political confrontation.” He had earlier denied the accusations, calling them unsubstantiated in a social‑media post.
Corruption allegations are not new to Kyiv. During the ongoing war against Russia, several members of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s inner circle have faced scrutiny, and in 2025 nationwide protests erupted following attempts to curb the independence of Nabu and Sap.
Ukraine’s status as an EU candidate relies on a credible, systemic fight against corruption. European partners, including G7 ambassadors, warned that any erosion of anti‑corruption frameworks could jeopardise Ukraine’s integration plan. Zelensky recently restored the independence of Nabu and Sap after the backlash.
The case echoes a 2025 revelation where Nabu uncovered a scheme involving more than $3 million (about £2.2 million) diverted by a former energy minister to pay bail for himself, leading to the dismissal of a senior official in Zelensky’s office.
Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a former anti‑corruption advocate, recently told the BBC that President Zelensky should be asked whether he was aware of corruption within his close circle. Fedorov stressed he had no evidence of personal involvement but highlighted the broader “systemic crisis of governance” in Ukraine.
The resignation throws a spotlight on the resilience of Ukraine’s anti‑corruption institutions and the political will to maintain them. Whether the government can now effectively curb corruption will be a key metric for future EU and Western engagement.
