Anton Kovalskyi, 42, has been appointed acting prosecutor general after Ruslan Kravchenko resigned amid raids connected to illegal call centres. Nabu and Sap allege a money-laundering network inside Kravchenko's office paid to protect scam call centres and "laundered millions," charges Kravchenko denies. Anti-corruption bodies say recent moves against investigators form part of an "unprecedented" campaign to disrupt probes, which include inquiries into senior officials such as Andriy Yermak.
Zelensky Appoints Anton Kovalskyi As Acting Prosecutor General After Anti‑Corruption Probe
[Reuters]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Anton Kovalskyi, 42, as acting prosecutor general following the resignation of Ruslan Kravchenko amid an anti-corruption investigation into alleged links between officials and illegal call centres.
Details of the Appointment and Investigation
Kovalskyi was appointed on Thursday to replace Kravchenko, who resigned after anti-corruption investigators searched his offices in connection with unlawful call centres that reportedly operated across Ukraine. Authorities from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap) say they uncovered a money-laundering network allegedly run by an official inside Kravchenko's office.
Allegations
Nabu and Sap allege the network accepted payments to shield call centres that carried out telephone scams and "laundered millions in assets." According to investigators, proceeds from these schemes were used to purchase real estate, jewellery and other valuables.
Responses
Ruslan Kravchenko has denied any involvement, calling the allegations "completely unsubstantiated." He resigned a day after the searches and has since left Ukraine. Kravchenko also claimed documents were removed during the search and leveled separate accusations that Nabu chief Semen Kryvonos forged documents nearly 20 years ago.
"It all looks like an attempt to obstruct the work of Nabu and Sap by gaining access to sensitive information regarding planned investigations,"
— Semen Kryvonos, Nabu chief, who rejected Kravchenko's accusations as "nonsense" and warned of "fierce" attempts to undermine anti-corruption probes. Nabu and Sap described the recent actions targeting investigators and their offices as part of an "unprecedented" campaign to disrupt high-profile inquiries.
Wider Context
Nabu and Sap are currently investigating a number of senior Ukrainian figures, including former presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak, several former ministers and other influential individuals. Yermak's lawyer has called the allegations against him "baseless."
In 2025, nationwide protests erupted after President Zelensky proposed reforms that critics said would curb the independence of Nabu and Sap. Zelensky later restored the agencies' autonomy, but doubts remain among some observers about his long-term commitment to anti-corruption reform amid the pressures of the ongoing war with Russia.
What to watch next: How Kovalskyi manages the prosecutor general's office and whether investigations into alleged networks protecting scam operations will advance without political interference.
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