The Ukrainian Police Agency at the Center of Protests Against Zelensky

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Updated July 26, 2025 12:01 am ET | Jane Lytvynenko and James Marson

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine has long been a battleground in Ukrainian politics, where graft is rife

KYIV, Ukraine—Youthful protesters at the biggest demonstration here since Russia’s 2022 invasion were championing a cause that, at first glance, seemed unusual in a country known for its revolutions: the power of a law-enforcement agency.

In a country that has spent more than three decades of its independence fighting the dual scourges of Russian aggression and crippling corruption, the establishment of the agency under U.S. pressure in 2015 was seen as a watershed that could boost Ukraine’s economy and accelerate its integration with the West.

So when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on Tuesday gutting its independence by bringing it under the control of a prosecutor appointed by him, the reaction was furious.

Two days after thousands protested countrywide, he said he was reversing course and published legislation drafted by his office that he said would guarantee the independence of anticorruption bodies. Parliament will consider it next week.

The storm is the latest to surround an agency that has become a battleground between young reformers, cheered on by the West, who want a competitive political and economic environment in their country, and a corrupt old guard bent on preserving their illicit enrichment schemes.

Supporters of NABU say the institution is imperfect but critical in a country where corruption is endemic. Instead of answering to the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president, NABU brings cases to a Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office. Its independence from other law-enforcement bodies is what allows it to take big swings.

But that has frequently brought it into conflict with the government of the day, which is used to acting with impunity.

“When investigations began—for the first time in Ukraine’s history—that dealt with sitting high-ranking officials, it was obvious...

[BobL]

For the record, NOTHING is ‘independent’ in Ukraine, including NABU, which is controlled by the Democrats and the EU.

[kiryandil]

What Zelya doink?

[adorno]

A country at war won’t see any real law-enforcement, and if there is, it will itself be run by corrupt people, including those supporting Putin/Russia.

[Flaming Conservative]

Everyone knows he and his government are crooked. He’s not about to give that up.

[DesertRhino]

This is the beginning of replacing Zelinsky. The DC/London axis wants to send in that exiled general. Then they will good is with stories of “turning a corner”, “a new Dawn in Ukraine” etc etc.
And keep up the same thing.

[fireman15]

A country at war won't see any real law-enforcement, and if there is, it will itself be run by corrupt people, including those supporting Putin/Russia.

Just to clarify... you believe that in addition to everyone here who has a different opinion than you about Saint Zelensky... that law enforcement in Ukraine is run by “those supporting Putin/Russia”?

[PGR88]

that has become a battleground between young reformers, cheered on by the West,

Color revolution incoming.

And apologies to the million or so Ukrainian men killed. Sorry the last one didn't work out.

[BenLurkin]

They should be like California where nobody does anything about it and everyone pretends everything’s fine.

[kiryandil]

LOL!

Zelya the Piano Clown claims that there are still some dumb Ukies on pre-2014 Russian soil. What an effing bimbo!

[adorno]

Just to clarify... you believe that in addition to everyone here who has a different opinion than you about Saint Zelensky... that law enforcement in Ukraine is run by “those supporting Putin/Russia”?

You have a hard time understanding the written words.

I did say 'including those that support Putin/Russia'. Not exclusively Putin/Russia.

As the whole world knows (except you, apparently), Putin.Russia are always involved in intervening in and promoting and disrupting in governments that are not in Russia's sphere of influence. Ukraine is a huge target for Putin, who is at war with Ukraine and will take any opportunity to disrupt Ukraine, politically and militarily. It would be highly stupid for Putin to not take advantage of the political uprisings in Ukraine. It is expected. Heck, Russia intervenes politically in elections in most western countries, so, would Russia bypass a huge opportunity to create havoc in it's nearest enemy and target? The uprisings in Ukraine were very likely instigated from the start by Putin. He can't win the war, so, he might have a better chance by turning the Ukrainian people against Zelensky.

Use some common sense.
>br> It's always nice to notice the 'neutrality' of those who post things such as "Saint Zelensky", Your couldn't have been more obvious and biased.

[fireman15]

Use some common sense.

Always good advice even when it is coming from someone with an obviously deraigned obsession which has completely obscured his/her reasoning abilities.

[adorno]

Use some common sense.

Yep! Still good advice.

Always good advice even when it is coming from someone with an obviously deraigned obsession which has completely obscured his/her reasoning abilities.

"Deraigned" obsession. The phrase makes no sense whatsoever. Better look up 'deranged' to get the correct spelling, btw. I'll give you time to look it up... I'll wait.... ;) Time's up! Did you find it???

But, wait....

You had more in your post...

"Completely obscured reasoning abilities"... let me decipher that. Nah! Not possible.

But, if anything was 'obscured', it's your ability to understand even the simplest of comments, which you blew it, totally.

Re-read my prior comments and read with your reading comprehension skills engaged, and perhaps also engage whatever common sense you have while you're at it. Don't try to sound 'intelligent' with your Kamala-like phraseology. She is not smart at all, and you sound the same.

Again, use common sense and you might be able to stay out of trouble. ;)

How's Putin doing, btw? Did he win the war yet?

[fireman15]

LOL!!! I knew it would be only a matter of time before you pointed the finger at me. Anyone who does not agree 100% with your deranged delusions is a Putin supporter. And you call that common sense?

[adorno]

I knew it would be only a matter of time before you pointed the finger at me. Anyone who does not agree 100% with your deranged delusions is a Putin supporter. And you call that common sense?

Hey, you learned how to spell 'deranged'. Wonders never cease.

But, I don't need to point the finger at you. You do that yourself.

And, when it comes to common sense, you have no idea what it means. You don't have any of it. But, Putin loves you for not having any and supporting him, even if indirectly.

But, you didn't answer my question: How's Putin doing and did he finally complete the conquest of Ukraine?

And, again, even if you don't directly support Putin, you do so by arguing against Ukraine and supporting any anti-Ukraine policies and arguments, which Putin puts out on a daily basis. And that includes anti-Zelensky propaganda and instigation of discord into law-enforcement.

[fireman15]

The Zelensky government has not represented the best interests of the Ukrainian people almost from day 1. He lied about his intention to keep the peace with the Russians and instead began instituting policies that everyone knew would be considered provocative by the Russians. The nail in the coffin of course was when Biden told Putin that no one would do anything if it was a “minor incursion”. What a joke!

Zelensky’s puppet masters wanted a war because they assumed it would end up in regime change. This is why the propaganda which you have bought into is largely about getting rid of Putin. Who cares? He is an evil Russian dictator like all the rest and his replacement will likely be just as bad... that is just the way it works. That is common sense; something which you know absolutely nothing about because you have none.

[adorno]

The Zelensky government has not represented the best interests of the Ukrainian people almost from day 1.

You have no idea what the best interests of the Ukrainian people are. Unless you're a Ukrainian and down on the ground there, you have have no idea about what they want.

And, Zelensky was voted in as president by the Ukrainian people, which means it was in their best interests to have him as president. And for the last 3 1/2 years, their best interest is to keep Putin/Russia out of their country. Duh!

He lied about his intention to keep the peace with the Russians

The one that lied about keeping the peace was Putin, and it was Putin that launched the invasion of Ukraine, not the other way around. Duh!

and instead began instituting policies that everyone knew would be considered provocative by the Russians.

BS!

The only provocation that Putin needed is that, he wanted Ukraine to become part of the Russian Federation, just like it was a republic of he old Soviet Union. Duh!

The nail in the coffin of course was when Biden told Putin that no one would do anything if it was a “minor incursion”. What a joke!

That's the only part I can agree with you on.

But, no matter what Biden or anybody else did, Putin was going to invade anyway and all protestations to the impending invasion was not going to do any good. Only military action by NATO/U.S. was going to stop Putin. Duh!

Zelensky’s puppet masters

Who are those puppet masters? Stop making things up. You are so apparent and delusional with your accusations. Stop it. You make no sense.

wanted a war because they assumed it would end up in regime change.

Regime change, where? Ukraine was already free and independent country, so, no regime change needed there. And Putin wasn't going to be deposed, since the Russian people are easily manipulated and controlled and simple threats would keep them in line. Duh!

This is why the propaganda which you have bought into is largely about getting rid of Putin.

That is such a stupid allegation. It's not propaganda when Putin's actions require counteractions to undo his evil deeds. And if he hadn't invaded Ukraine, nobody would be talking about Putin at all. Duh! Get into the real world and stop making things up. Duh!

Who cares?

The world cares. Duh!

He is an evil Russian dictator like all the rest

Evil must be fought against. Putin must be gone! It's the only way to restore peace to Ukraine and even to Russia. Duh!

and his replacement will likely be just as bad... that is just the way it works.

Well, you're not totally devoid of common sense. But, that's no saying much, because even the most stupid people in the world have at least some common sense. ;)

That is common sense;

Like I said, you have a bit of common sense, but that's not saying much. Even an animal can display a bit of common sense.

something which you know absolutely nothing about because you have none.

Yet, I'm the only one in this conversation with you that is making any kind of sense, and it's you that is lacking it and there is no logic in what you think and say.

When is an invasion a good thing? When is defending yourself a bad thing. When is making up excuses to do things a good thing? why is taking over a country by force a good thing? Duh!!!

[fireman15]

You are so wrapped up in virtue signaling and your propaganda fueled delusional view of the world that it is very sad. Hundreds of Billions of dollars have been wasted, hundreds of thousands of lives have been destroyed, millions of people have been displaced, our world economic system has been severely disrupted, and a country has had most of its infrastructure destroyed. Its people have been subjugated and trodden on by a corrupt regime that sponsored by outside forces which never represented the best interests of its people.

Why??? Not because of Putin; he is no worse than the long line of malevalent communist Russian leaders that came before him. This was an absolute failure of foreign policy by Soros and the entire Globohomo cabal who have been leading the West down a path that will ultimately lead to our complete destruction. But you are so obsessed with lapping up the propaganda that you have been fed by your own lefty masters that you will let the entire Western World fall to pieces while you obsess over saving a corrupt regime that was essentially installed through lies and subterfuge.

You are a piece of work... Let me tell you something that I know has no chance of penetrating your thick scull. The people of Ukraine do not want to fight to the last man being Lindsay Graham’s and companies proxy army against Russia. They were fooled and taken advantage of. They voted for peace and prosperity instead they received death and destruction at the hands of their corrupt Western sponsored and controlled stooge who plays the piano with his penis. His government is close to collapse with or without Putin’s assistance. The desire of the people of Ukraine to live free and prosperous lives without fighting battles for you and those who have polluted your thought process is becoming overwhelming. They were making progress up until Soros and company managed to gain control of their political process a little more than ten years ago...