Zelensky Promises to Preserve Anti-Corruption Agencies’ Independence Amid Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged on Wednesday to preserve the independence of the country’s anti-corruption institutions, responding to growing public anger over a law that opponents say weakens key oversight bodies.

In his evening address, Zelenskiy acknowledged widespread discontent after a second day of nationwide protests, saying he would submit new legislation to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the autonomy of the agencies.

“Of course, everyone has heard what people are saying these days… on social media, to each other, on the streets. It’s not falling on deaf ears,” Zelenskiy said.

Thousands rallied across Ukraine — from Kharkiv to Kyiv to Lviv — in what marked the first wartime street protests. Demonstrators chanted “Shame” and “Veto the Law” in Kyiv’s central square near the president’s office, calling for a reversal of the bill signed overnight.

“It’s like a knife in the back, to be honest,” said Maryna Mykhalchuk, 26, who told Reuters she had lost friends in the war and plans to enlist in the army.

The law in question gives the Prosecutor General, a presidential appointee, expanded powers over Ukraine’s two main investigative bodies — the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). It was passed hastily after two anti-corruption officials were detained on suspicion of ties to Russian intelligence.

Ukrainians protest in the first wartime rally against a newly passed law, which curbs independence of anti-corruption institutions, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Both NABU and SAPO jointly called for their independence to be restored through legislation. Lawmakers say parliament is expected to hold an emergency session next week to debate Zelenskiy’s proposed new draft.

European Leaders Voice Concern

The law has drawn rare criticism from Kyiv’s key European allies. A spokesperson said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen personally conveyed her strong concern to Zelenskiy and requested an explanation.

Ukrainians protest in the first wartime rally against a newly passed law, which curbs independence of anti-corruption institutions, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

“Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions are vital to its reform path. Restricting them would be a significant setback,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp wrote on X.

French European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad also expressed hope the government would reverse course.

The controversy comes at a critical moment in Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and secure continued foreign assistance. EU leaders have long tied Ukraine’s accession prospects and financial aid to concrete progress in curbing corruption — an entrenched issue in the country’s post-Soviet history.

Political analysts warned the law could erode public confidence in Zelenskiy’s leadership during the ongoing war with Russia. “Only democracy and the European choice give us a chance to win,” posted Valerii Pekar, a Kyiv-based analyst.

Protests Spread Nationwide

In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, near the war’s frontlines, hundreds of protesters — some in military uniform — marched under the slogan “Ukraine is not Russia.” Similar rallies took place in other cities, underlining the law’s unpopularity among ordinary citizens and veterans alike.

Ukrainians protest in the first wartime rally against a newly passed law, which curbs independence of anti-corruption institutions, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

The protests come amid fierce fighting along more than 1,000 kilometres of the eastern front, as Russia continues its slow advance and intensifies attacks on Ukrainian cities using drone strikes.