Ukraine's chief prosecutor resigns over call centre corruption scandal

Ukraine's Chief Prosecutor, Ruslan Kravchenko, resigned on Sunday following allegations of corruption involving illegal call centers in the country. This decision came after Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators searched his offices and discovered a money-laundering scheme linked to an official in Kravchenko's office. In his resignation letter, Kravchenko stated he did not wish his position to be utilized as a "tool for political confrontation," referencing earlier remarks where he dismissed the allegations as "unsubstantiated."

Corruption scandals have plagued Kyiv throughout the ongoing conflict with Russia, targeting several members of President Volodymyr Zelensky's inner circle. According to Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), the specific office in question received funds to protect call centers that engaged in phone scams, with laundered money subsequently used to purchase property, jewelry, and other valuables.

Kravchenko, in a statement released on Sunday evening, categorically denied any wrongdoing and resigned the following day, expressing gratitude to Zelensky and the Ukrainian parliament for their trust. The Ukrainian president has not yet commented publicly on the resignation. Despite the establishment of two anti-corruption agencies, Nabu and Sap, over a decade ago, corruption remains a significant issue in the nation.

In 2025, nationwide protests erupted following Zelensky's attempts to implement reforms aimed at curbing the independence of Nabu and Sap. European partners, including G7 nations, expressed concern over the announcement, warning it could jeopardize Ukraine's integration with the European Union. Ukraine, an EU candidate country, was granted its status contingent upon a credible fight against corruption.

Zelensky reinstated the freedom of the two anti-corruption bodies following widespread backlash, but questions remain about his dedication to anti-corruption reform. Last month, Nabu revealed a scheme involving the misappropriation of over $3 million in Ukrainian currency to bail a former energy minister accused of money laundering, with a senior figure in Zelensky's office later dismissed.

In a recent BBC interview, Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov questioned Zelensky's awareness of potential corruption within his inner circle, emphasizing the need for transparency from the president. Despite his dismissal in mid-July, Fedorov has since been critical of what he calls a "systemic crisis of governance" in Ukraine, asserting he never received any unlawful tasks from Zelensky and maintaining his innocence of any personal involvement in corruption.