Power surges: Ukrainians took to the streets against the law on NABU and SAP

Unrest continues throughout Ukraine after the adoption of a high-profile law that effectively deprives the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The new document was supported by the majority of deputies of the Verkhovna Rada and signed by President Vladimir Zelensky despite widespread criticism inside and outside the country. The protests that have affected the largest cities have already been called the most massive for this Ukraine in recent years. Read more about what is happening in the country now in the Izvestia article.

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Which cities of Ukraine are covered by the protest movement

The protests in Ukraine began on July 22, 2025, after President Vladimir Zelensky signed the controversial law No. 12414. The innovation transfers the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) to the Office of the Prosecutor General, which, according to protesters and critics, undermines the fight against corruption and democratic reforms carried out since 2015.

The law was adopted under an expedited procedure — 263 deputies voted for it, only 13 were against it, and the same number abstained. The initiator was the Servant of the People faction.

Mass demonstrations broke out in the evening of the same day. In Kiev, the main protest actions are concentrated on the square in front of the Ivan Franko Theater, where, according to various estimates, from 5 to 9 thousand people gathered at the past actions. In Lviv, the actions gathered from 500 to 1,500 participants, in Kharkov — about 1,000 people. On the second day of the protest, about 250 people came out in Mykolaiv, about 200 in Uzhgorod, more than a hundred in Khmelnitsky, and in other cities the actions numbered from several hundred to a thousand participants.

In the whole country, the total number of protesters has already exceeded 15 thousand people, and the protests continue and cover new regions. Ukrainians take to the streets shouting: "Hands off NABU and SAP," "Corruption is the enemy of the future," "Veto the law!", "The end of NABU is the beginning of the era of corruption."

At the moment, protests have spread to at least 20 cities in Ukraine, including Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odessa, Chernivtsi, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Uzhgorod, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhia, Rivne, Kropyvnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv and Lutsk.

The protesters demand the president's veto of Law No. 12414 and its repeal. The main slogans at the rallies were preserving the independence of NABU and SAP, categorically rejecting the subordination of anti—corruption bodies to the Prosecutor General, defending anti-corruption reforms and countering the rise of authoritarianism.

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Who opposed the law on the deprivation of independence of NABU and SAP

The adoption of the law provoked a sharp reaction from both Ukrainian politicians, public figures and some government officials.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, MP from the Golos party, called the bill "the elimination of the independence of NABU and SAP" and said he intended to challenge it in the Constitutional Court. He said that a bill on repealing the adopted law and collecting signatures of deputies for its registration is already being prepared. Zheleznyak also actively informs international organizations such as the IMF, the EU and the World Bank about the consequences of this law for cooperation with Ukraine, since maintaining the independence of NABU and SAP was a condition for providing financial assistance to the country.

At the same time, the politician pointed out that the Verkhovna Rada has currently gone on a long summer break until the end of August, and the law will not be reviewed in the near future.

"For understanding: after the destruction of the anti-corruption legislation, the Rada went on a "break" for 4 weeks, until August 20th. Therefore, nothing will even theoretically happen," he wrote on social media.

Another representative of Golos, MP Inna Sovsun, supports public protests and signature collection, opposing the adopted document and calling for preventing the undermining of anti-corruption institutions.

Particular attention was drawn to the participation of Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who joined the protesters on the square in front of the Ivan Franko Theater on the evening of July 22. He supported their demand to veto the law and preserve the independence of NABU and SAP.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the situation, said that the law was aimed at purging anti-corruption structures of allegedly detected "Russian influence" and promised to prepare a new bill that would "strengthen the independence of anti-corruption institutions" in response to public reaction.

What do the Western media write about the protests in Ukraine?

Publications from the United States and Europe note a serious setback in Ukraine's anti-corruption reform and express concerns about further cooperation with the West. The New York Times notes that the law strengthens the control of the executive branch — in particular, the Prosecutor General, appointed by the president — over anti-corruption agencies, which undermines their independence. According to journalists, this may negatively affect the trust of Western partners, for whom the work of NABU and SAP was one of the main indicators of the success of the fight against corruption.

The New York Times quotes Vladimir Zelensky, who explained the adoption of the law by the need to "cleanse from Russian influence." However, mass protests and criticism speak of deep internal discord and disagreement with the course of power. The publication emphasizes that the weakening of anti-corruption structures calls into question the budgetary and political support of the West, as well as slows down European integration processes.

In turn, the European edition of Politico describes the situation as "the collapse of the key gains of the Maidan," pointing out that the independence of NABU and SAP was one of the cornerstones of support for Ukraine from the EU and the G7 countries. According to journalists, the law was adopted under pressure from the president's entourage, since it was these bodies that investigated corruption cases involving the highest echelons of government. Strengthening the vertical of power and limiting the autonomy of anti-corruption structures is perceived as a serious step back, which has caused widespread public discontent and concern among international partners.

Western media agree that the adopted law threatens Ukraine's fundamental institutional achievements, undermines trust and may negatively affect further financing and support for the country. At the same time, the president's promise to prepare a new bill that "will strengthen the independence of anti-corruption institutions" is perceived as an attempt to smooth the situation and maintain strategic relations with the West.