Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced a heated political scandal last week after the public backlash forced him to reverse a controversial decision that would have weakened two of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies. Within 24 hours of Zelensky signing a law stripping the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) of their independence, mass protests erupted, forcing the Ukrainian president to backtrack.
The demonstrations quickly grew into a nationwide movement. War veterans, active-duty soldiers, and civilians united in opposition, condemning what they saw as a dangerous erosion of democratic progress. Initially, Zelensky appeared dismissive of the backlash, but public anger only intensified, with even frontline troops expressing outrage.
Sevgil Musayeva, editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, issued a historical comparison: “We are now in the face of the most dangerous development in all the years since Maidan.”
Facing mounting pressure, Zelensky conceded defeat, pledging to restore the agencies’ independence. A new law reinstating their autonomy is expected soon. “It is critical not to lose the unity. To listen to people, to have dialogue, and so on,” Zelensky said at a press briefing, framing his reversal as an act of responsive leadership.
Brussels has largely avoided criticizing Ukraine’s wartime democratic backsliding, European officials have not made a single comment about the deterioration of democratic institutions or the rule of law—if there was any even before the war. EU members such as Hungary or Slovakia are getting bombarded with rule-of-law accusations and political attacks just for standing up against Brussels, but Ukraine gets a different treatment.
Corruption remains Ukraine’s most pressing internal concern, with recent polls showing 51% of Ukrainians view it as a greater threat to democracy than the war itself. Some analysts speculate there is a growing panic within Zelensky’s inner circle as his approval ratings decline and reelection prospects dim.
Former armed forces commander General Valery Zaluzhny is now widely seen as a leading contender in any future election. Adrian Karatnycky, author of Battleground Ukraine, argued this misstep could be politically fatal: “It is the second nail in the coffin after the Zaluzhny firing.”
Zelensky’s presidency has increasingly been marked by efforts to consolidate power and sideline rivals. His administration has imposed sanctions on former President Petro Poroshenko that could bar him from running for office, raising concerns about political suppression. Meanwhile, campaigns to root out Russian collaborators have at times resembled political purges more than genuine security measures.
As fears grow that Zelensky may attempt to orchestrate a “managed” election, Ukraine’s civil society has proven resilient. The recent protests demonstrate that Ukrainians, despite enduring war, did not sacrifice their lives and liberties only to see their democracy undermined from within.
