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NBC News
an hour ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Ukraine erupts with anger at Zelenskyy, threatening wartime unity
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian fury was fixed Wednesday on its own government. As Russian drones peppered their homes, their loved ones fought in trenches and their negotiators waded through more pessimistic diplomacy, Ukrainians waged a new battle on the streets of Kyiv and other major cities. Activists called for further protests Wednesday over a law signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that curbs the country's top two anti-corruption agencies. The move already fueled the first major demonstrations since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, and drew alarm from European officials and experts. 'Destroy Russians, not democracy,' one of the hastily drawn cardboard signs in Kyiv read, while crowds yelled 'Shame!' and 'Veto the law!' Natalia, 48, a therapist who like many in this febrile atmosphere doesn't want to use her last name, said trying to restrict anti-corruption agencies risked "endangering the values of freedom, democracy in our country and the future of our children." She sees the protests as a way to support the army on the front lines. "I am coming out to give them a signal that we are here," she said, "so that we are not stolen and betrayed." The sudden crisis could offer the Kremlin a powerful propaganda tool and threaten not just Ukraine's unity, but also its support from the West at a crucial moment in the war. Parliament had swiftly passed the law giving Zelenskyy's prosecutor general sweeping powers over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. He said he did this to make them more efficient and to clear out 'Russian influence,' but critics feared it would further enhance the power of his divisive inner circle. It prompted howls of outrage and dismay, not just from Ukrainians themselves, but also Western officials and experts alarmed that the country could be backsliding on its endemic graft problem. It comes a week after the arrest of a prominent anti-corruption campaigner who had embarrassed senior officials with investigations into their affairs. All of this overshadowed a third round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine set to begin Wednesday in Istanbul. Though both sides remain pessimistic of serious progress, these are the first discussions since President Donald Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day ultimatum to agree to a truce or face new tariffs. Most observers expect another prisoner exchange but little else. Many Ukrainians are also worried that Zelenskyy's move will be weaponized by the country's opponents as evidence of the corruption they say makes supporting Kyiv untenable. The head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, even appeared to question the move, warning that 'Ukrainian history has taught us that a nation loses if it is torn apart by internal contradictions.' Ukraine's endemic corruption is one of the reasons it has not been accepted into the European Union and NATO. Marta Kos, the E.U.'s commissioner for enlargement, said she was 'seriously concerned' about the new law, which she called a 'serious step back.' Responding to the criticism Wednesday, Zelenskyy gathered with the heads of the anti-corruption agencies, as well as law enforcement chiefs and the prosecutor general. 'We all hear what society is saying,' he said in a statement, promising measures to 'strengthen the work of each institution.' He added, 'We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers. And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement and anti-corruption system — one that ensures a real sense of justice.' It also requires air defense against the nightly waves of drones launched by Russia. Overnight, it shot down 27 of 71 unmanned aircraft, with those that got through killing at least four people and injuring more than 40 across Kherson, Donetsk, Sumy and Kharkiv, officials said. On the ground, Russian forces continue to make grinding gains in eastern Ukraine, including enveloping the key town of Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in Washington. Though many analysts believe Russia's hemorrhaging of men and military equipment will soon begin to tell, morale is frayed for many. 'They won't stop until we surrender,' said Agneshka Shyba, 23, who works in social media. 'Frankly speaking, I am exhausted.'
The Journal
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Ukrainians take to the streets after Zelenskyy signs new law that targets anti-corruption bodies
UKRAINIANS HAVE TAKEN to the streets to protest after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill into law that opposition figures have said will leave Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies disempowered. The law means that the prosecutor general now has control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. It has effectively erased the independence of the two bodies. Critics have said that this will mean that Ukraine's parliament will have the ability to control which cases are pursued. Zelenskyy has said that this was done to rid the bodies of 'Russian influence'. In an address the President said that cases taken by the bodies had been left 'lying dormant', including criminal proceedings 'worth billions'. Advertisement Protesters seen with placards, expressing their opinions against a law that strips the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of their 22 July. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo He spoke on the bill in a post-midnight address after signing the bill late Tuesday (he makes an address around that time every night). Kyiv has now seen the biggest protests in years, with hundreds gathering in Kyiv, and elsewhere in the cities of Odesa, Dnipro and Lviv. Yesterday protestors had gathered in their hundreds near the presidential complex and called for Zelenskyy to veto the law. As protests go on today, it's the first time Ukrainians have taken to the streets in these numbers since Russia first launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, said on twitter that she is 'seriously concerned' over the move. Kos further said: 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back. Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are essential for [Ukraine's] EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Zelenskyy faces toughest battle as Ukraine protests controversial law
The Ukrainian parliament passed on Tuesday a controversial bill that effectively eliminates the independence of the country's anti-corruption institutions. The 12414 bill subordinates the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) to Ukraine's prosecutor general. Activists had urged Ukrainian lawmakers to vote against the bill before the vote, warning that it would make it impossible for the anti-corruption agencies to investigate senior officials without approval from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration. But despite the civil society calls and pressure, the Verkhovna Rada passed the bill, triggering the first protests in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. Thousands of people hit the streets in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Dnipro, protesting against the 12414 bill and calling on Zelenskyy to veto it even after the parliament's green light. But according to the official legislative website, Ukraine's president did sign the bill later on Tuesday. What are NABU and SAPO? The two agencies were created in 2015 as part of pro-Western reforms following Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity, which ousted former pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. NABU investigates top-level corruption, and its cases are overseen and prosecuted by SAPO. Those cases are subsequently tried by Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court. The two institutions were established with the aim of being able to independently investigate and prosecute leading Ukrainian officials suspected of graft, without being subject to political influence or interference. Corruption cases were supervised by the chief anti-corruption prosecutor, who was independent from Ukraine's prosecutor general. However, the newly signed law removes this independence and places NABU and SAPO under the direct supervision of the country's top prosecutor. In his overnight address, Zelenskyy said "the anti-corruption infrastructure will work, but without Russian influence". "We need to clean up everything. And there should be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO will work. Ukraine has really ensured the inevitability of punishment for those who go against the law. And this is what Ukraine really needs. Cold cases must be investigated," he added. Raids on NABU While Zelenskyy normally delivers his daily address via his Telegram channel at about 8 pm local time (7 pm CET), the latest update was not posted until about 1 am local time, after parliament rushed to pass the bill and protesters gathered to voice their discontent. "For years officials who have fled Ukraine have been living abroad for some reason in very nice countries and without legal consequences," he said in the latest address. "This is not normal. There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been hanging around for years. And there is no explanation why the Russians can still get the information they need. It is important to do it without Russians." Ukraine's SBU state security service on Monday said it had launched a series of raids on NABU and conducted more than 70 searches as part of an investigation into allegations that officials within the agency have been cooperating with Russia. The SBU said it had arrested one official at the NABU on suspicion of being a Russian spy and another over alleged business ties with Moscow. Other NABU officials had ties to a fugitive Ukrainian politician's banned party, according to the state security service. NABU criticised the raids and said that they went too far. "In most cases, the grounds cited for these actions are the alleged involvement of certain individuals in traffic accidents," it said in a statement. "However, some employees are being accused of possible connections with the aggressor state [Russia]." According to NABU, there is no evidence that its employee detained by the SBU was involved in anti-state activities. Backlash and bill criticism The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International said the bill undermined one of the most significant reforms since the Revolution of Dignity and would damage trust with international partners. The watchdog had also condemned the SBU's raids on NABU, saying that the authorities were exerting "massive pressure" on Ukraine's anti-corruption activists and fighters. NABU and SAPO expressed their concern about the new law in a joint statement. "The head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office," the agencies said. In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said that she was "seriously concerned" about the law. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," she wrote. "Independent bodies like NABU and SAPO are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very centre of EU accession negotiations." Zelenskyy's harshest critics Yet the harshest criticism against Zelenskyy over the law has come from home, rather than abroad. War veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi urged citizens to "take cardboard from boxes and make posters to write everything you think about the recent onslaught". Protesters across Ukraine have carried signs reading "Veto the law," "Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine's future," or simply "We are against it." People were carrying handmade sings and writings, chanting "Get your hands off NABU and SAP," "Veto the law," and "No corruption in government." The demonstrations included war veterans, active-duty soldiers, civilians and anti-corruption activists. People were chanting "Shame", "Corruption is the death of the future", and "Power belongs to the people" as they urged Zelenskyy to veto the bill. Both NABU and SAPO expressed gratitude and support for the protests. "We perceive this support as a sign of trust in our institution. And we will do everything to justify it," NABU said in a social media post. "We were particularly impressed by the decisive stance of young people — the future of the country for which we work. We will continue to work and defend the independence of our investigations from interference." The SAPO also thanked the demonstrators for their support. "Despite immense pressure and disgraceful decisions, we continue to fight for justice, integrity, and dignity," SAPO said. For many protesters and critics, the importance of this bill is comparable to Yanukovych's 2013 decision to reverse Ukraine's European integration, which triggered the Revolution of Dignity, also known as the EuroMaidan revolution, leading to the president's ousting. At the Tuesday protests, many Ukrainians were holding signs referencing the 2014 uprising, calling on Zelenskyy not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor. Many were holding the picture of Zelenskyy from 2019, when shortly after being elected, he was urging people not to tolerate any cases of corruption and to contact the NABU immediately. "We will never overcome corruption if you keep turning a blind eye to it. Are you being asked for a bribe? Being offered a 'kickback'? Please, don't stay silent! Contact the NABU hotline – 0 800 503 200. Each of you can start changing the country today," Zelenskyy said at the time. On Tuesday, thousands of Ukrainians reminded him of this address and also of what happened to the former President Yanukovych, who went against the will of the people of Ukraine. The protesters are set to continue the demonstrations on Wednesday, as they found out that Zelenskyy signed the bill that the people urged him to veto.
Saudi Gazette
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Protests in Ukraine as Zelensky signs bill targeting anti-corruption bodies
KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill that critics say weakens the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, sparking protests in several cities and drawing international criticism. The new law grants the prosecutor general control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo), and critics say it undermines their authority. In an address on Wednesday, Zelensky said both agencies would still "work" but needed to be cleared of "Russian influence". After the bill passed, hundreds of people gathered in Kyiv for the biggest anti-government protest since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Demonstrations were also seen in the cities of Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa. "We chose Europe, not autocracy," said a poster held by one demonstrator. "My father did not die for this," said another. Ukraine's chief prosecutor, Zelensky loyalist Ruslan Kravchenko, will now be able to reassign corruption probes to potentially more pliant investigators, and even to close them. In his overnight address, Zelensky criticised the efficiency of Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, saying cases had been "lying dormant". "There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been 'hanging' for years," he said. He added that the prosecutor general would ensure "the inevitability of punishment" for those who broke the law. To critics of the legislation, this is at odds with more than a decade of pro-democracy and anti-corruption efforts. It is such aspirations that led to the Euromaidan uprising and the downfall of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, followed by Russia's invasion and the deaths of hundreds of thousands people. The Ukrainian government has cited Russian influence for curtailing Nabu's powers. The day before the controversial law was passed, Ukraine's Security Service and the prosecutor general's office carried out searches and arrests targeting alleged Russian spies at Nabu. The move has sparked concern among Ukraine's Western allies. The Ukrainian independent anti-corruption system was set up at their insistence and under their supervision 10 years ago. It was a key precondition for their aid and stronger ties as Ukraine declared a pro-democracy course amid Russia's initial invasion of 2014. "The European Union is concerned about Ukraine's recent actions with regard to its anti-corruption institutions," says European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier. "The EU provides significant financial assistance to Ukraine, conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance." Stamping out corruption is also a key requirement for Ukraine's application to join the EU. The European commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, criticised the bill's adoption. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting Nabu's independence is a serious step back," Kos wrote on social media, saying the two bodies were "essential" for Ukraine's EU path. Ukraine's deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Taras Kachka, said he had assured Marta Kos there would be no compromise on anti-corruption, and that "all core functions remain intact". Dmytro Kuleba, who stood down as foreign minister last year, said it was a "bad day for Ukraine" and that the president had a choice — either to stand on the side of the people or not. Ambassadors from the G7 group of nations have said they would like to discuss the pressure on Nabu and Sapo with the Ukrainian leadership. However, Ukraine's allies would be extremely reluctant to roll back the aid and co-operation at a time when its troops are struggling on the frontline. — BBC
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Protests Break Out Against Zelensky in Ukraine: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Protests have broken out against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he signed a bill that critics says weakens the country's anti-corruption agencies. The law effectively strips the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) of their independence and places them under the control of the prosecutor general. It will make it easier for the government to control which cases are pursued. Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a veteran of the Russia-Ukraine war, rallied hundreds of Ukrainians for the protests on Tuesday. He called the bill an "assault on the anti-corruption framework," according to Ukrainska Pravda. He added: "Time is not on our side... we must take to the streets tonight and urge Zelensky to prevent a return to the dark days of Yanukovych. See you this evening!" He was referring to Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovych, who was removed from the presidency in 2014 following weeks of protests. People chant during a protest in central Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. People chant during a protest in central Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. AP This is a developing story. More to follow.
