Ukraine’s leading anti-corruption official has warned that recent actions by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government have significantly undermined the independence and effectiveness of the country’s key anti-graft institutions, raising alarms among domestic observers and Western allies.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Oleksandr Klymenko, head of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), described a “coordinated campaign” by senior Ukrainian officials to place SAPO and its investigative counterpart, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), under tighter executive control. This culminated in Zelenskyy signing a controversial law last week that stripped both agencies of their independent status and brought them under the control of the executive branch.
Although Zelenskyy later backed a new bill to restore their autonomy—expected to be voted on by parliament on Thursday—Klymenko insists the damage has already been done.
“Our work has been effectively stopped,” Klymenko stated. “Almost all of our whistleblowers stopped cooperating with us.”
Klymenko cautioned that the fear generated by the move has had a chilling effect on anti-corruption efforts, especially after reports emerged of NABU investigators being raided and detained without warrants by the Ukrainian security service (SBU), an agency directly controlled by the president.
Political Fallout and Western Concerns
The law sparked mass protests in Kyiv and drew criticism from European and American officials. Western allies, who have long supported Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts, warned that weakening these institutions could endanger billions in wartime aid and Ukraine’s aspirations for European Union accession.
Zelenskyy has since acknowledged that the reform was mishandled, admitting that there “probably should have been a dialogue” with civil society and international partners before enacting such a sweeping measure. Nonetheless, the legislative rollback remains uncertain, as more than 70 MPs from Zelenskyy’s own party are reportedly hesitant to support the reversal, fearing retribution from the anti-corruption agencies.
Ongoing Investigations Into Government Figures
Klymenko revealed that SAPO and NABU are currently investigating 31 sitting MPs and 40 former lawmakers, including two former deputy prime ministers, a former deputy head of the presidential office, and even the head of Ukraine’s Supreme Court. Among the high-profile cases is Oleksiy Chernyshov, a close Zelenskyy ally and former deputy prime minister, who was charged with abuse of power and illicit enrichment. Chernyshov denies the charges and was recently dismissed in a cabinet reshuffle.
According to Klymenko, such investigations are likely a key reason behind the recent effort to curtail the agencies’ powers.
“All investigations by NABU and SAPO are based on facts and evidence, not on political positions,” he said. “The independence of anti-corruption institutions is not a threat—it is a key guarantee of justice and democratic development.”
Background: Institutions Born After Euromaidan
SAPO and NABU were established after the 2014 Euromaidan revolution, with strong backing from Western donors. Their mandate is to investigate and prosecute high-level corruption cases independent of the president and prosecutor-general. NABU employs 270 detectives, while SAPO consists of around 40 prosecutors, working together on some of Ukraine’s most sensitive legal cases.
President Zelenskyy had justified the move to take control of the agencies by claiming it was necessary to root out potential Russian infiltration. However, Klymenko contested this, saying there was “insufficient evidence” to support such claims and warning that the narrative was being used as a pretext to weaken the institutions.
Call for International Support
Klymenko appealed to Ukraine’s international backers, particularly the European Union and United States, to take more decisive action in defending anti-corruption institutions.
“For 10 to 11 years, we held our ground largely thanks to international partners—especially the Americans,” he said. “Now that interest and pressure has waned, that’s part of why this attack was possible.”
He emphasized that the EU, as Ukraine’s largest donor, must now play a leadership role in enforcing Kyiv’s anti-corruption commitments.
“Europeans must take the lead,” Klymenko urged. “They can ensure the survival and independence of these crucial institutions.”
As Ukraine battles external threats on the frontlines, the outcome of Thursday’s parliamentary vote could determine the resilience of its internal fight against corruption—one that remains central to public trust and international support.
