On July 23, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would submit a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada aimed at strengthening the independence of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). The statement came just a day after mass protests erupted in response to another bill—one that, by contrast, places NABU and SAP under the authority of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The president’s office did not explain why the initiative to strengthen the independence of anti-corruption agencies was not introduced alongside the legislation that curtails it.
The European Commission has also intervened: according to Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, the independence of anti-corruption institutions directly affects Ukraine’s access to financial aid. "Our current financial support for Ukraine depends on transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance. The same applies to Ukraine’s path toward EU accession, which will also require strong anti-corruption capacity,"quoted the Financial Times.
Meanwhile, the second day of protests spread to more cities and drew larger crowds than the day before.
Ukrainians took to the streets in a mass protest, holding signs urging Zelensky to veto the bill.
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"Corruption lives—the future dies"
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Ivan Franko Theater Square in Kyiv. Protesters chant "Veto the law." July 23, 2025.
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A square in Kyiv filled with protesters opposing the curtailment of NABU and SAP’s independence. July 23, 2025.
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Protests in Kyiv on July 23, 2025.
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Protests in Dnipro. July 23, 2025.
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"The Russians kill, and the government finishes us off." Dnipro, July 23, 2025.
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Protest on the central square in Lviv. July 23, 2025.
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Protesters chant "Hands off NABU".
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A protester in Kyiv holding a sign that reads: "From Volodymyr to Vladimir—just one signature." July 23, 2025.
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"Why the fuck would I need a system that works against me?" Chernivtsi, July 23, 2025.
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Kyiv, July 23, 2025.
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Protests in Mykolaiv. July 23, 2025.
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"No to corruption." Mykolaiv, July 23, 2025.
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"Ukraine is not Russia." Kharkiv, July 23, 2025.
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Protests in Kharkiv. July 23, 2025.
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"Shame." Odesa, July 23, 2025.
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"Veto!" Odesa, July 23, 2025.
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Protests in Odesa. July 23, 2025.
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Protesters in Kyiv revived a chant from the 2014 protests: "Who doesn't jump is a Moskal." Kyiv, July 23, 2025.
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