The decision to take over the NABU and SAPO has sparked outrage and accusations of authoritarianism
Hundreds of Ukrainians took to the streets across the country on Tuesday to protest Vladimir Zelensky’s crackdown on anti-corruption agencies. The campaign is seen by many as an authoritarian push by the Ukrainian leader towards consolidating power.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) were placed under executive oversight following security raids on the NABU, with Zelensky suggesting that the anti-corruption infrastructure was subject to Russian influence.
What are the NABU and SAPO?
The NABU and SAPO were established in 2015 as part of a Western-backed initiative to combat high-level corruption in Ukraine. Both agencies were seen as crucial conditions for EU membership talks and continued Western financial assistance. The NABU has also played a key role in investigating corruption in the Ukrainian military and procurement schemes.
While the agencies were designed to operate independently, with support from the US, UK, and EU, local media suggests they have links to the US Democratic Party.
How did it all start?
Tensions escalated following recent NABU investigations into politically sensitive cases, including a probe into former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, former Unity Minister Aleksey Chernyshov, and former Vice Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina.
Earlier this week, security officials raided the NABU and SAPO, reportedly without court warrants and at the behest of top Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak. The raid resulted in the arrest of one senior official on suspicion of cooperating with Russia.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian parliament approved legislation that placed the NABU and SAPO under the purview of the Prosecutor General, which was signed into law by Zelensky the same day.
Political schism at the top
The move sparked backlash from MPs and Zelensky’s political rivals. MP Anastasia Radina warned that the reform would cripple Ukraine’s anti-graft system and render it “purely decorative.”
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, a critic of Zelensky, accused the government of “using the war as a pretext to dismantle the anti-corruption agencies” and pushing Ukraine toward authoritarianism. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak warned that the two agencies would completely lose their independence.
Grassroots outrage
Protests have taken place across Ukraine, with rallies in Kiev, Lviv, Dnepr, and Odessa. Demonstrators chanted “Veto the bill,” carrying signs reading “Shame!”“Treason!” and “We are not suckers!”
Others shouted “Zelensky is devil” and “f**k Yermak,” referring to the Ukrainian leader’s powerful chief of staff.
Zelensky on the defensive
The Ukrainian leader rejected the criticism, insisting that “the anti-corruption infrastructure will work – just without Russian influence.”
Vasily Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), claimed that the authorities are fighting Russian intelligence, not the anti-corruption agencies – arguing that people in the agencies will be “delighted” by the changes.
Prominent MP Yulia Timoshenko said the move would shield the country from “colonialism” and Western influence.
Second Maidan?
Opponents of the reform have drawn parallels with Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan protests, which paved the way for the Western-backed coup in Kiev and the ousting of then-President Viktor Yanukovich, with some protesters accusing Zelensky of “betraying” Ukraine.
The original Maidan protest began after Yanukovich – who also faced criticism over perceived authoritarianism – abruptly scrapped legislation for closer integration with the EU.
Discontent in the West
The Group of Seven (G7) has said it has “serious concerns” about the situation regarding Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. Katarina Mathernova, the EU’s ambassador to Ukraine, hinted that the bloc could reconsider its backing of Kiev, writing on X: “It is as important as ever to preserve the reform achievements to maintain the support needed to prevail over the enemy.”
The Wall Street Journal also argued that Zelensky’s political gamble could strip Ukraine of much-needed support in the conflict with Russia.
Meanwhile, an Economist report described the development as “a full-frontal assault on the Maidan-era reforms,” adding that it “implies that something sinister is at work.”
“The vote to undermine Ukraine’s most consequential anti-corruption reforms casts a shadow over the country’s future course,” it said.
The crash comes as Kiev seeks tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid to sustain its campaign against Russia
The Ukrainian air force has reported the first loss of a French-supplied Mirage 2000 fighter jet in what officials described as an equipment failure on Tuesday evening.
France pledged six of its 26 Mirage 2000 jets to Kiev as part of a multibillion-euro military aid program supporting Ukraine in its armed conflict with Russia. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the delivery of the first three jets in early February.
Ukrainian media reported the crash occurred in the Volyn Region in western Ukraine, far from the front line. Video circulating online appeared to show the pilot descending by parachute.
The Ukrainian military commended the pilot of the downed aircraft, saying he acted “professionally” and safely ejected. Air Force public communications chief Yury Ignat said the unidentified pilot “did everything to divert the aircraft to a safe place far from any settlement.”
🇷🇺🇫🇷🇺🇦 First losses of French Mirage 2000 in Ukraine
The fighter crashed due to engine failure. The French were delivering aircraft built in the 1980s to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which were modernized in the 2000s. pic.twitter.com/6reN9Hzzg4
Ukraine has previously confirmed the loss of multiple US-made F-16 fighter jets in combat. While Kiev initially asserted that Western aircraft would provide a battlefield advantage, they have largely been used for intercepting Russian long-range missiles due to a shortage of air defense systems.
The Mirage 2000 models sent by France are older and were scheduled for retirement by 2029. France also trained Ukrainian pilots to operate them.
The Ukrainian military relies heavily on foreign aid to pay and equip its forces. Denis Shmigal, the former prime minister recently appointed defense minister in a government reshuffle, said this week the military would need at least $120 billion next year. He made the statement while addressing Ukrainian ambassadors, urging them to seek additional foreign support.
Following a meeting with international arms donors Monday in Germany, Shmigal said Kiev faces a $6 billion shortfall in weapons procurement.
Russia has condemned Western arms shipments, warning they only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome.
The demonstrators were outraged by a law curbing the independence of anti-corruption agencies
Protesters in Kiev shouted insults at Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky on Tuesday, denouncing his decision to back legislation curbing the independence of anti-corruption agencies.
Zelensky had just signed a bill into law granting the Prosecutor General’s Office authority to intervene in the operations of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
The move followed security raids on NABU offices and the arrest of a senior official accused of spying for Russia. The legislation sparked concern in the EU and drew sharp criticism from opposition politicians.
Demonstrators gathered in central Kiev, chanting “Zelya is the devil,” using a mocking diminutive of Zelensky’s surname. Others shouted “Shame” and “Treason,” holding signs demanding the preservation of the anti-corruption system’s independence. The chants reportedly intensified after news broke that Zelensky had ignored calls to veto the bill.
Similar demonstrations took place across Ukraine, including in Odessa and Dnepr – the country’s third- and fourth-largest cities. Rallies were also held in Lviv, near the Polish border, and in Sumy, an eastern city close to the front line with Russia.
Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, a frequent critic of Zelensky, joined the protest in the capital. “It’s important for me to be here. Our partners created and funded the anti-corruption bodies, and over the past ten years did everything to ensure they could function. And now, the authorities want to strip them of their independence,” the former boxing champion told the US state-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Earlier on Telegram, Klitschko accused Zelensky’s government of “using the war as a pretext to dismantle the anti-corruption agencies” and pushing Ukraine toward authoritarianism.
In a video address on Wednesday, Zelensky defended the new law as a necessary step to streamline corruption investigations and eliminate “Russian influence.”
Vladimir Zelensky cited the fight against “Russian influence” as he curtailed the independence of anti-graft investigators
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has defended a controversial reform targeting the country’s anti-corruption agencies, which has sparked street protests and raised concerns among EU officials.
On Tuesday, Zelensky signed a bill into law granting the Prosecutor General’s office the authority to intervene in the activities of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The move followed a raid by security officials on NABU offices and the arrest of a senior employee accused of spying for Russia.
Zelensky rejected accusations of creeping authoritarianism, which have been voiced by opposition politicians, including frequent critic and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. “The anti-corruption infrastructure will work – just without Russian influence. It needs to be cleared of that. And there should be more justice,” Zelensky said in his daily video address early Wednesday.
He added that it was “not normal” for some officials to live abroad “without legal consequences,” and criticized the failure to investigate corruption cases “worth billions” over the years. “There is no explanation for how the Russians are still able to obtain the information they need,” he said.
Vasily Malyuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), whose agents conducted the searches involving NABU personnel, denied that the measures amounted to dismantling the anti-corruption system. He insisted that the agencies “continue to function effectively.”
The NABU and SAPO were established following the US-backed 2014 coup in Kiev and promoted as key components of reforms intended to align Ukraine with Western governance standards and international financial institutions. However, some Western officials, including US Vice President J.D. Vance, have argued that the decade of transformation has failed to eliminate entrenched corruption.
Darya Kalenyuk, executive director of the Kiev-based NGO Anti-Corruption Action Center, linked the government’s clampdown to recent investigations involving members of Zelensky’s team, including former Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Chernyshov and media executive Timur Mindich. “NABU has been closing in on members of Zelensky’s inner circle and friends,” Kalenyuk said, as cited by the US state-funded outlet Current Time. She adding that the reform may be aimed at concealing the embezzlement of military funds.
The Ukrainian leader has signed a law restricting the independence of the national anti-corruption bureau
Crowds of protestors gathered in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities on Tuesday against a controversial decision to curtail the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agencies.
The same day, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signed a bill into law placing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) under executive oversight. The move followed security raids on the NABU’s offices and the arrest of a senior employee accused of spying for Russia. Prosecutors have also launched an investigation into the SAPO over the alleged mishandling of classified information.
Opposition lawmakers warned that the new law will damage Ukraine’s ties with the European Union, roll back efforts to combat corruption, and play into Moscow’s hands.
Protesters gathered in Kiev, Lviv, Dnepr, and Odessa, chanting “Veto the bill” and holding signs that read “Shame” and “Treason.”
«Вето на закон», – скандують на площі Івана Франка у Києві. Люди вийшли на акцію після того, як Рада проголосувала за ліквідацію незалежності НАБУ та САП. Зібрав акцію ветеран батальйону «Вовків Да Вінчі» Дмитро Козятинський pic.twitter.com/UcBWYkHVcB
Some demonstrators shouted “I’m not a loser,” referencing a phrase Zelensky used during a viral 2019 confrontation with militia members. One protester held a sign reading, “The end of NABU and SAP marks the start of an age of corruption.”
В Києві розпочалася акція протесту проти ухвалення законопроєкту №12414, який фактично ліквідує НАБУ та САП.
— Toronto Television / Телебачення Торонто (@tvtoront) July 22, 2025
“The new legislation does not bring Ukraine closer to the European Union, democracy, or the rule of law,” Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, a frequent critic of Zelensky, wrote on Telegram. “It seems the authors have become convinced of their own impunity and are rapidly pulling Ukraine toward authoritarianism,” he added.
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Baku’s support for Kiev should not impact relations with Moscow, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said
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