Kyiv — Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, has submitted his resignation following allegations that officials within his office were involved in a corruption network protecting illegal call centres engaged in phone scams.
The move comes after Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators conducted searches at Kravchenko’s offices over the weekend. Authorities from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap) stated they had uncovered a money-laundering operation led by a subordinate in Kravchenko’s team.
According to the investigation, funds were collected to shield call centres from prosecution. The proceeds were subsequently used to purchase real estate, jewellery, and other assets, Nabu reported.
In a statement released on Sunday evening, Kravchenko denied any wrongdoing, describing the accusations as “completely unsubstantiated.” He tendered his resignation the following day, writing that he wished to avoid having his position exploited as a “tool for political confrontation.” He thanked President Volodymyr Zelensky and the parliament for their trust, though Zelensky has not yet publicly addressed the departure.
Corruption remains a persistent challenge for Kyiv during its ongoing war with Russia. This incident adds to a series of scandals involving figures close to the president. In August, Nabu disclosed the discovery of a scheme to misappropriate more than $3 million to pay bail for a former energy minister accused of money laundering, leading to the dismissal of a senior presidential official alleged to be involved.
The scandal has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine’s international partners. Ambassadors from the G7 expressed alarm, warning that such corruption could jeopardize the country’s path toward European Union membership. Ukraine holds candidate status on the condition that it maintains a credible fight against graft.
Tensions regarding anti-corruption institutions have been high since 2025, when nationwide protests erupted after Zelensky attempted to implement reforms that would have reduced the independence of Nabu and Sap. Although the president reinstated the bodies’ autonomy amid the backlash, doubts persist regarding his commitment to judicial reform.
Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed in July after reportedly clashing with the head of the armed forces, has been vocal about a “systemic crisis of governance” in Ukraine. In a recent interview, Fedorov called on Zelensky to answer public questions about his awareness of corruption within his inner circle, while emphasizing that he had never received orders from the president that conflicted with the law or his integrity.
Zelensky needs to step up. Fedorov’s questions about the systemic crisis of governance are now more relevant than ever.
The G7 ambassadors are right to be alarmed. Taxpayer money funding these schemes while we send aid is unacceptable.
My uncle worked in one of those call centers. I always knew it was shadier than it looked, but never imagined prosecutors were involved.
Resigning to avoid political weaponization? Sounds like a classic exit strategy for someone who knows too much.
Another scandal? It seems corruption is just another front in this war. How can Ukraine join the EU like this?