Kyiv, Ukraine – July 28, 2025
Mass protests have erupted across Ukraine following the passage of a controversial law that many believe undermines the country’s anti-corruption efforts. Demonstrations broke out on July 22 in major cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, and Dnipro, marking the largest wave of anti-government unrest since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The uproar was sparked by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s signing of a bill that effectively stripped the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) of their independence. The new law places both agencies under the authority of the Prosecutor General, an official appointed by the President.
In a joint statement, NABU and SAPO warned that the law had “deprived [them] of guarantees that previously enabled them to effectively carry out their tasks and functions in combating high-level corruption.” Zelensky defended the move, arguing the changes were necessary to root out Russian influence within the agencies.
Tensions further escalated after Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) conducted over 80 warrantless raids on NABU employees. The SBU claimed the raids were aimed at preventing leaks and probing cases of treason and illegal trade with Russia. However, critics see the actions as an intimidation campaign.
The law initially focused on supporting families of missing persons during wartime. But last-minute amendments shifted its focus dramatically, prompting concern among Ukraine’s Western allies. G7 ambassadors condemned the raids and raised alarm over the law’s implications for democratic accountability.
Amid growing public and international pressure, Zelensky reversed course. On July 25, he submitted a new bill to parliament aimed at restoring the independence of NABU and SAPO. The revised draft includes guarantees of operational autonomy and mandates regular polygraph testing for officials with access to state secrets.
“Today, my bill is already in the Verkhovna Rada… for justice, for law enforcement, and anti-corruption agencies,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine, long plagued by systemic corruption, faces a critical test of its commitment to transparency. The protests signal a broader demand from Ukrainians for genuine reform, even as the nation continues to fight for its sovereignty on the front lines.
