Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named an acting prosecutor general after his predecessor stepped down amid an anti‑corruption inquiry.
Anton Kovalskyi, 42, was appointed on Thursday to succeed Ruslan Kravchenko, who resigned last week after Ukrainian anti‑corruption authorities searched his offices in connection with illegal call‑center operations.
Officials said they uncovered a money‑laundering scheme allegedly headed by an official in Kravchenko’s office, a claim he denied.
The probe into Kravchenko’s office marks the latest corruption scandal to affect Kyiv amid the war with Russia, with allegations also directed at several members of Zelensky’s inner circle.
According to Ukraine’s National Anti‑Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), the network within Kravchenko’s office received funds to shield call centres that conducted phone scams and laundered millions of dollars in assets.
The proceeds were subsequently used to purchase real estate, jewelry and other valuables, NABU said.
Kravchenko issued a statement denying any involvement and labeling the allegations “completely unsubstantiated.” He resigned a day later before departing Ukraine.
He also claimed that documents were seized during the office search in an attempt to conceal criminal investigations targeting anti‑corruption officials.
Separately, he accused NABU chief Semen Kryvonos of forging documents in a case dating back almost two decades.
Both NABU and SAP rejected Kravchenko’s allegations, with Kryvonos calling them “nonsense” and condemning what he described as fierce efforts to undermine corruption investigations.
The two anti‑corruption agencies said it was part of an unprecedented campaign designed to disrupt their high‑profile investigations.
Kryvonos of NABU also asserted that anti‑corruption detectives, their offices and vehicles were under surveillance, though he did not provide specific details.
He added: “It all looks like an attempt to obstruct the work of NABU and SAP by gaining access to sensitive information about planned investigations.”
NABU and SAP are currently investigating several senior Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky’s former chief of staff Andriy Yermak, former ministers and other influential figures. Yermak’s lawyer has called the allegations against him baseless.
In 2025, nationwide protests erupted after Zelensky attempted to pass reforms that would limit the independence of NABU and SAP. He later restored their autonomy, but doubts persist about his commitment to anti‑corruption reform.
