Ukraine’s Chief Prosecutor Resigns Over Call Centre Corruption Scandal
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Ukraine’s Chief Prosecutor Resigns Over Call Centre Corruption Scandal
Image source: Reuters
By Tabby Wilson
Published 1 hour ago
Ukraine’s chief prosecutor, Ruslan Kravchenko, has resigned following corruption allegations linked to illegal call centres in the country. This comes after a weekend search of his offices by Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators.
In his resignation letter, Kravchenko stated his desire to avoid using his position as a "tool for political confrontation," despite earlier denying the claims as "unsubstantiated."
Corruption scandals have been prevalent in Kyiv during the war against Russia, targeting several figures close to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap), Kravchenko’s office was involved in a money-laundering scheme, facilitated by call centres conducting scams. The illicit funds were used to acquire property, jewelry, and other valuables.
Kravchenko released a statement on Sunday, refuting the allegations, and resigned the following day, thanking Zelensky and the Ukrainian parliament for their support.
Despite the establishment of Nabu and Sap over a decade ago, corruption remains a significant challenge in Ukraine. Protests erupted in 2025 after Zelensky attempted to curb the independence of these anti-corruption bodies, raising concerns among Kyiv’s European partners about Ukraine’s EU integration prospects.
Zelensky reinstated the independence of Nabu and Sap following the backlash, but questions regarding his commitment to anti-corruption reforms persist.
Last month, Nabu revealed a scheme to misappropriate over $3 million in Ukrainian currency to post bail for a former energy minister accused of money laundering. A senior official in Zelensky’s office was subsequently fired.
In an interview with the BBC, Ukraine’s former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, questioned Zelensky’s knowledge of potential corruption within his inner circle. Fedorov emphasised the need for transparency, stating, "It’s his responsibility to tell us all whether he was aware of all that or not… I don’t want to make any assumptions."
