Ukraine's prosecutor general resigns amid major corruption investigation

WorldPolitics
8 Sep 2026 • 5:06 PM MYT
Euronews
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Ukraine's prosecutor general resigns amid major corruption investigation

Ukraine’s prosecutor general Ruslan Kravchenko has resigned amid a major corruption investigation involving officials in his office.

The country's anti-corruption agencies, NABU and SAPO, say they uncovered a criminal group whose members allegedly took bribes from fraudulent call centres and laundered millions in criminal proceeds.

Kravchenko’s office was searched during the investigation, while recordings released by NABU refer to a person described as the “boss.”

Investigators say the person has the patronymic Andriiovych and previously headed the State Tax Service, details that match with Kravchenko.

Kravchenko has not been named as a suspect and denies any involvement. Announcing his resignation, he said he had submitted it to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and parliament, calling his departure a “political decision.”

“I do not want the position of prosecutor general to be used as an instrument of political confrontation,” Kravchenko said. “My position regarding the charges remains unchanged.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a joint news conference during the Coalition of the Willing summit in Kyiv, 24 August, 2026
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a joint news conference during the Coalition of the Willing summit in Kyiv, 24 August, 2026 AP Photo

NABU and SAPO said the alleged group was created in mid-2025 and included serving prosecutors as well as people outside the Prosecutor General’s Office. Investigators say its members received regular bribes in exchange for allowing fraudulent call centres to operate without interference.

The money was allegedly laundered through property purchases, assets registered to other people and bank accounts belonging to associates. Investigators have so far identified five alleged members of the group.

Among those detained is Serhii Kropyva, a deputy head of the Prosecutor General’s Office’s international co-operation department.

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court ordered him held in custody until 2 November and set bail at €2.32 million.

Kropyva is suspected of laundering assets worth more than €1.7m and has been suspended from his duties.

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At a court hearing, a SAPO prosecutor also referred to the close relationship between Kropyva and Kravchenko.

Case materials allege that Kropyva arranged repair work at a house in Kozyn, an affluent area south of Kyiv where Kravchenko lives. Kravchenko has said his family rents the property.

Kravchenko said he had never instructed anyone to help illegal call centres operate or used his position to protect them.

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