Ukraine's President Appoints New Acting Prosecutor General Amid Corruption Probe
Anton Kovalskyi, 42, takes over following the resignation of Ruslan Kravchenko, who was implicated in an illegal call center scheme.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Anton Kovalskyi as the acting prosecutor general, replacing Ruslan Kravchenko, who resigned last week amid an anti-corruption investigation. Kovalskyi is 42 years old.
The investigation into Kravchenko's predecessor centered on allegations of a money-laundering scheme operating within his office, involving illegal call centers that defrauded individuals. Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap) stated that the network received funds to protect these call centers, which laundered millions in assets that were subsequently used to acquire property and valuables.
Kravchenko has denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations "completely unsubstantiated." He resigned shortly after searches of his offices by anti-corruption officials and subsequently left Ukraine. Kravchenko also asserted that documents were stolen from his office during the search, intended to obstruct ongoing criminal investigations. He further accused Nabu chief Semen Kryvonos of forging documents in a case from nearly two decades ago.
Both Nabu and Sap have refuted Kravchenko's claims. Kryvonos dismissed the accusations as "nonsense" and characterized them as "fierce" attempts to disrupt corruption investigations. The anti-corruption agencies described the events as part of an "unprecedented" campaign aimed at hindering their high-profile probes. Kryvonos also indicated that anti-corruption detectives and their facilities were under surveillance, suggesting an effort to gain access to sensitive information about planned investigations.
This development marks the latest corruption scandal to affect Kyiv during its ongoing conflict with Russia, with several members of Zelensky's inner circle having faced accusations. Nabu and Sap are currently investigating a number of prominent Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky's former chief of staff Andriy Yermak, former ministers, and other influential figures. A representative for Yermak has stated the allegations against him are "baseless."
In 2025, nationwide protests erupted after Zelensky attempted to enact reforms that critics argued would curtail the independence of Nabu and Sap. Although Zelensky later reinstated their autonomy, questions have persisted regarding his commitment to anti-corruption reform.