Kyiv Curbs Anti-Graft Bodies, Risking Western Aid

In a move that could jeopardize its relationship with Western allies, Ukraine’s parliament has passed contentious amendments that effectively strip the country’s key anti-corruption institutions of their independence. The legislation, pushed through by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ruling party, brings the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU)—both created with substantial backing from the EU and the US—under the control of the Prosecutor General.

The vote followed a dramatic escalation in tensions between state security services and the anti-graft bodies. Just one day prior, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted raids on NABU and SAP offices, claiming to have uncovered a Russian FSB agent within NABU and arrested a regional director for illicit trade with Russia. This provided the official justification for reining in the agencies, casting the measure as a matter of national security.

However, NABU has pushed back, stating that prior security checks had revealed no evidence of Russian infiltration. In a pointed counter-move, the anti-corruption bureau announced it had finalized a bribery case against a senior SBU official, fueling perceptions of a fierce turf war between the powerful state bodies. The legislative changes were rushed through parliament despite stark warnings from the head of the anti-corruption committee, Anastasia Radina, who called the move a “catastrophic” decision that would effectively destroy Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure.

The decision has caused a deep schism in Ukrainian politics. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko celebrated the vote as a “bright day,” taking a swipe at what she termed “grant-funded patriots” and the influence of international experts in building the independent agencies. This sentiment reflects a growing nationalist pushback against the conditions attached to Western support.

International partners have reacted with immediate alarm. G7 ambassadors issued a statement expressing deep concern, while the EU’s envoy to Kyiv, Katarina Mathernová, explicitly warned that maintaining reform achievements is crucial for securing the support Ukraine needs to win its war against Russia. A source in Brussels has already indicated that Kyiv’s actions will be heavily scrutinized in the upcoming assessment of its progress toward EU membership in October.

Analysts suggest the move reflects an attempt by Kyiv to consolidate power and shrug off Western oversight amid perceptions of dwindling international support compared to the initial phase of the full-scale invasion. However, this gamble could prove costly, as Western allies possess other tools of influence, particularly through the increasingly strict controls being placed on military and financial aid. The bold maneuver has also sparked speculation about whether it was tacitly approved by US officials during a recent visit, a question that looms over upcoming financial talks between Kyiv and Washington.