Mass Protests Erupt in Ukraine After Zelensky Signs Law Stripping Anti‑Corruption Agencies of Independence

Ukrainians are once again filling public squares—not to protest an invading army, but to defend the democratic principles they believe are being eroded from within. A controversial new law, signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 22, has ignited a political firestorm, with protests erupting in at least 10 major cities over concerns it weakens Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs.

The law restructures the leadership and reporting structure of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), placing them under the authority of the prosecutor general. While the government claims this is necessary for greater coordination and efficiency, watchdogs argue it destroys the independence that has made these agencies credible—and feared.

“This is a red line,” said Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center. “We cannot defeat corruption if our investigators answer to the same political figures they are supposed to investigate.”

Public backlash was swift. Within hours of the announcement, activists began gathering outside Parliament in Kyiv, and by the next day, coordinated rallies occurred in Lviv, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, and Zaporizhzhia. Protesters waved flags bearing the EU symbol and held banners reading, “No rollback!” and “Zelensky: Don’t betray the people.”

Though protests were nonviolent, their symbolism was powerful: Ukrainians are risking wartime legal consequences to speak out against their own government. “I fought in Bakhmut for a free Ukraine,” said veteran Ivan Zadorozhniy, “not a Ukraine run by backroom deals and quiet power grabs.”

President Zelensky defended the move, saying, “There can be no sacred cows in law enforcement. We are fighting corruption, and this change will make that fight more effective.” He dismissed opposition as “politically motivated noise,” though in a late-night televised speech, he acknowledged the need to consult with civil society groups.

But critics argue the law gives the president unchecked power over institutions meant to be independent by design. NABU was created with EU support after the 2014 Euromaidan revolution precisely to ensure corruption cases could not be buried by political actors. Under the new structure, the prosecutor general—a presidential appointee—can override or reassign investigations, sparking concerns about selective justice or interference.

The international response was immediate. The European Commission released a strongly worded statement expressing concern, and multiple G7 nations reportedly reached out to Kyiv for clarification. Brussels officials warned the move could delay Ukraine’s EU accession and jeopardize future funding earmarked for reconstruction.

Inside Ukraine, civil society has mobilized. Several NGOs and watchdog organizations are planning to file legal complaints, while public petitions urging Zelensky to veto the bill have already surpassed 250,000 signatures. “This law violates not only the letter but the spirit of Ukraine’s Constitution,” said constitutional lawyer Iryna Serhiienko.

Zelensky, who rose to power in 2019 on an anti-corruption platform, now finds himself accused of abandoning the very reforms that won him international admiration. Analysts believe the crisis could be a turning point for his presidency. While his wartime leadership remains widely respected, moves perceived as authoritarian risk undermining that legacy.

“This is the most significant protest since the war began,” said political scientist Mykola Davydiuk. “It shows the people will not stay silent when they feel their democratic values are being trampled.”

What happens next remains uncertain. Zelensky may offer amendments or seek to dilute the law’s impact through regulatory guidelines. Alternatively, he could wait for the protests to die down and press ahead. But the crisis has laid bare a growing trust deficit between civil society and the state.

For many Ukrainians, the fight against Russian aggression cannot come at the cost of democracy. As one protester’s placard in Kyiv read: “We are fighting for freedom on two fronts—don’t open a third.”