Ukraine’s anticorruption agencies, which have been at the forefront of the country’s political turmoil, were initially created in 2014 as part of a pro-Western pivot amid widespread frustration with corruption. The agencies were formed to crack down on graft and reflect Western demands for greater transparency.
However, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stripped these agencies of their independence, sparking thousands of people to take to the streets in protest. Despite an initial reversal, it is unclear whether this move will quell the unrest.
The investigation into senior members of Mr. Zelensky’s government has also been a focus point for the anticorruption agencies. The recent raids on their offices and efforts to muzzle criticism have only added fuel to the fire.
Thousands of protesters in Kyiv and other cities are demanding action, with profanity-laced signs directed at Mr. Zelensky and his top advisers. This surge of anger highlights the pivotal role that these watchdog agencies play in Ukraine’s politics and the sensitivity of the issues they investigate, particularly alleged schemes to embezzle from military budgets.
The future of Ukraine’s democracy hangs in the balance, as the government seeks to regain control over its institutions and restore trust with the public.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/world/europe/ukraine-protests-corruption-zelensky-military-spending.html