"Criminal organization" at the top of the government? The investigation operation shaking Kyiv

Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, NABU and SAPO, announced a broad operation against a 'criminal organization' allegedly involving parliament members and senior officials in President Zelensky's office. The names of the suspects and the offenses have not yet been disclosed. The announcement comes amid last year's crisis over the agencies' independence and the corruption affair at Energoatom.

This morning (Wednesday), Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, NABU and the special prosecutor's office SAPO, announced that they are conducting a broad operation to expose a 'criminal organization' allegedly led by a sitting parliament member and a former parliament member, with the participation of senior officials in the office of the President of Ukraine and other figures. At this stage, the names of the suspects, the details of the suspicions, or the offenses under investigation have not been published. The unusual announcement is drawing great interest in Kyiv, as it points to an investigation reaching once again the highest levels of the political system. In the background is last year's political crisis over the independence of the investigative bodies: in July 2025, parliament approved legislation restricting the independence of NABU and SAPO, which sparked the largest protests since the start of the Russian invasion, until Zelensky backed down and independence was restored. Also mentioned is the massive corruption affair at the state energy company Energoatom, in which former senior officials and businesspeople were investigated.