Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor Resigns After Call‑Center Corruption Investigation
Ukraine’s chief prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko has resigned amid a call‑center corruption scandal.
Weekend investigations of his residence uncovered a money‑laundering operation led by an official in his office.
In his resignation letter, Kravchenko said he wanted his position not to become a vehicle for political confrontation and recalled an earlier post in which he labeled the claims “unsubstantiated”.
Corruption controversies have long shadowed Kyiv during Russia’s war, with accusations targeting key figures near President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Ukraine’s National Anti‑Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap), a network beneath Kravchenko’s desk received funds to shield call centres that ran fraudulent phone scams, allegedly laundering millions in assets.
Those revenues were then spent on real estate, jewelry, and other valuable items, according to Nabu.
Kravchenko thereafter issued a statement, describing the allegations as “completely unsubstantiated” and denying any wrongdoing.
He formalised his resignation the following day, expressing gratitude to Zelensky and Ukrainian parliament for their trust while noting that the president has yet to comment publicly.
Even with Nabu and Sap established more than a decade ago, corruption remains a pressing issue for Kyiv.
Tensions escalated in 2025 when Zelensky sought reforms to curb the autonomy of those agencies, prompting widespread protests across the capital.
European partners reacted with alarm, with G7 ambassadors warning that such measures could undermine Ukraine’s path to EU membership.
As an EU‑candidate country granted access on condition of robust anti‑corruption efforts, Kyiv faces heightened scrutiny.
Though Zelensky reinstated the independence of Nabu and Sap after public pressure, skepticism persists regarding his commitment to reform.
Last month, Nabu disclosed a scheme that misappropriated more than $3 million ($2.2 million) in Ukrainian currency to secure bail for a former energy minister linked to money‑laundering, as highlighted in a recent release.
A senior official in Zelensky’s office implicated in the matter was recently dismissed.
