Ukraine's chief prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko has resigned following corruption allegations linked to illegal call centres in the country. This resignation occurred after Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators searched his offices over the weekend, identifying a money-laundering scheme allegedly led by an official in Kravchenko's office.
In his resignation letter, Kravchenko stated that he did not want his position to be used as a "tool for political confrontation" and referred to previous statements where he rejected the claims as "unsubstantiated". Corruption scandals have been a persistent issue in Kyiv during the ongoing war against Russia, with several members of President Volodymyr Zelensky's inner circle facing accusations.
According to Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), the network within Kravchenko's office allegedly received funds to protect call centres involved in phone scams and laundered millions in assets. The funds were reportedly used to purchase property, jewellery, and other valuables.
Kravchenko released a statement on Sunday evening, dismissing the allegations as "completely unsubstantiated" and denying any wrongdoing. He submitted his resignation the following day, expressing gratitude to Zelensky and the Ukrainian parliament for their "trust". The Ukrainian president has not yet publicly commented on the resignation.
Despite the establishment of Nabu and Sap over a decade ago, corruption remains a significant challenge in Ukraine. In 2025, widespread protests erupted after Zelensky attempted to implement reforms that would limit the independence of these anti-corruption bodies. Following backlash, Zelensky reinstated their autonomy, but concerns about his commitment to anti-corruption reform persist.
Last month, Nabu reported uncovering a scheme to misappropriate over $3 million (£2.2 million) in Ukrainian currency intended for bail for a former energy minister accused of money laundering, resulting in the dismissal of a senior official in Zelensky's office.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that President Zelensky should be questioned about his awareness of potential corruption among his close associates. Fedorov emphasized that he has no evidence implicating Zelensky in corruption, stating, "In all the time that I worked with him, not a single time have I received from him any task or assignment that would go against law or my sense of integrity."