Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has resigned amid a major corruption investigation involving officials in his office. He stepped down after investigators uncovered an alleged criminal organisation, whose members allegedly received bribes from fraudulent call centres and laundered millions of euros in criminal proceeds.
Investigation details
Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), say they uncovered a criminal group whose members allegedly took bribes in exchange for allowing fraudulent call centres to operate without interference. Kravchenko's office was searched during the investigation, while recordings released by NABU refer to a person described as the "boss." Investigators say this person has the patronymic "Andriiovych" and previously headed the State Tax Service, details that match Kravchenko.
Kravchenko has not been named a suspect
Kravchenko has not been named as a suspect in the case and denies any involvement. Announcing his resignation, he said he had submitted it to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and to parliament, describing his departure as a "political decision." "I do not want the position of prosecutor general to be used as an instrument of political confrontation," Kravchenko said. "My position regarding the charges remains unchanged." He also said he had never instructed anyoneto help illegal call centres operate or used his position to protect them.
Scope of the alleged scheme
NABU and SAPO said the alleged group was formed in mid-2025 and included serving prosecutors as well as individuals outside the Prosecutor General's Office. Investigators say members received regular bribes in exchange for allowing the fraudulent call centres to continue operating. The proceeds were allegedly laundered through property purchases, assets registered to other people, and bank accounts belonging to associates. Investigators have so far identified five alleged members of the group.
Deputy department head detained
Among those detained is Serhii Kropyva, a deputy head of the Prosecutor General's Office's international co-operation department. Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ordered him held in custody until 2 November, setting bail at €2.32 million. Kropyva is suspected of laundering assets worth more than €1.7 million and has been suspended from his duties.
Alleged link to Kravchenko
At a court hearing, a SAPO prosecutor referred to a close relationship between Kropyva and Kravchenko. Case materials allege that Kropyva arranged repair work at a house in Kozyn, an affluent area south of Kyiv where Kravchenko lives. Kravchenko has said his family rents the property.
Source: Euronews
