Ukraine's chief prosecutor resigns amid call-centre corruption scandal

Ukraine's chief prosecutor, Ruslan Kravchenko, has resigned following corruption allegations linked to illegal call centres operating in the country.

The resignation comes after anti-corruption investigators searched his offices over the weekend, saying they had uncovered a money-laundering scheme run by an official within his office.

In his resignation letter, Kravchenko said he did not want his position used as a "tool for political confrontation," referring back to an earlier statement in which he called the allegations "unsubstantiated."

Scheme protected phone scammers

According to Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), the network within Kravchenko's office took payments to shield call centres running phone scams, laundering millions in assets in the process. The proceeds were reportedly used to purchase property, jewellery and other valuables.

On Sunday evening, Kravchenko dismissed the accusations as "completely unsubstantiated" and denied any wrongdoing. A day later, however, he submitted his resignation, thanking President Volodymyr Zelensky and parliament for their trust. Zelensky has not yet commented publicly on the matter.

Ongoing corruption concerns

Despite Nabu and Sap being established more than a decade ago, corruption remains a persistent issue in Ukraine. In 2025, nationwide protests erupted after Zelensky attempted reforms that would have curbed the two bodies' independence, alarming European allies. G7 ambassadors warned such a move could jeopardise Ukraine's path toward EU membership, a status granted on condition of credible anti-corruption efforts. Facing backlash, Zelensky restored the agencies' independence, though doubts about his commitment to reform have lingered.

Last month, Nabu reported uncovering a separate scheme to misappropriate more than $3m intended to pay bail for a former energy minister accused of money laundering. A senior official in Zelensky's office allegedly connected to that case was dismissed.