Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suspended Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on corruption allegations, and the parliament confirmed his dismissal Tuesday, according to The Zioneer. Kravchenko, who has left Ukraine, faces accusations of involvement in a scheme protecting fraud call centers, as well as a separate investigation targeting the head of the anti-corruption bureau.
A political crisis within Ukraine's law enforcement system reached its peak this week with the dismissal of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an order suspending Kravchenko on Monday (September 14) after a months-long power struggle between the prosecutor's office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). The Ukrainian parliament confirmed the dismissal on Tuesday with 317 votes.
The crisis erupted after NABU's Operation Carthage, which alleged that an organized crime ring operated within the prosecutor general's office, protecting fraudulent call centers. Investigators claim senior officials received bribes to avoid disrupting the scam networks, with proceeds laundered through real estate and assets.
Kravchenko, who submitted his resignation on September 8, denied any involvement and accused NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) of political persecution. He alleged that during searches of his office, investigators seized materials from cases related to NABU officials themselves. In a further escalation, Kravchenko's office issued a suspicion notice against NABU head Semen Kryvonos over alleged document forgery.
Kravchenko has since left Ukraine, saying it was a work trip to update international partners on "the true state" of anti-corruption efforts. Zelensky, who had appointed Kravchenko less than 18 months ago as part of a reform push, called for his immediate dismissal.
The affair highlights the deep institutional tensions within Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture — a sensitive issue as Kyiv seeks to deepen integration with the European Union, which views independent anti-corruption bodies as a key criterion.
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