Prosecutor General Kravchenko is attempting to control NABU and SAPO; anti-corruption bodies remain under pressure — Ukrainska Pravda news outlet

According to the news outlet “Ukrainska Pravda,” Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, along with former Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, was the primary initiator of the attack on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). It was Kravchenko who developed mechanisms to subordinate anti-corruption bodies to the prosecutorial vertical and limit their independence, according to the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC).

Thus, by late July 2025, the Office of the President, under the leadership of Andriy Yermak, sought to weaken independent anti-corruption bodies that operated outside of government control. However, due to protests and concerns from international partners, these attempts failed. It was impossible to return to the previous status quo without losses, and the system had to be reformed, specifically by identifying those responsible for damaging Ukraine’s image on the international stage.

As noted by the Ukrainska Pravda’s journalists, Yermak and the president sought those to blame for the failed attack on the anti-corruption agencies while simultaneously planning new ways to pressure SAPO. The anti-corruption bodies acted proactively by disclosing details of “Operation Midas,” thereby blocking political pressure. As a result, Yermak left his post, and a shift in the balance of power began within law enforcement agencies, along with a search for new leaders.

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Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko coordinated the process of restoring control over the anti-corruption system and oversaw proceedings that other agencies would not take. He acted as an accelerator of the process when the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) or the State Bureau of Investigation refused to investigate cases against anti-corruption activists, redirecting them to the relevant structures. Kravchenko quickly established communication with parliamentary factions and the leaders of the rebellion against Yermak, which helped him secure his positions within the system and maintain his leadership of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

“Yermak is gone, but Kravchenko has retained his position. As well as his intentions to neutralize NABU and SAPO. The appointment of the odious lawyer [Oleksii] Shevchuk to the SAPO commission is not a mistake, but another attempt to hack the anti-corruption vertical,” the AntAC noted. 

A quiet reshuffle took place within the SBU following Yermak’s departure. Vasyl Malyuk stepped back from managing the agency, remained focused on conducting special operations against Russia, and did not interfere in political matters. Acting Head of the SBU, Yevhenii Khmara, took control of the service and began consolidating management under his own authority. First Deputy Oleksandr Poklad increased his influence within counterintelligence, while new deputies formed Khmara’s team.

The Foreign Intelligence Service remained without a permanent head after Malyuk refused to lead it. First Deputy Oleh Luhovskyy assumed temporary management, while former head Oleh Ivashchenko assisted him in mastering the administration.

The State Bureau of Investigation has been operating as usual following the events of the summer of 2025. Although, as the news outlet noted, the Office of the President and the Office of the Prosecutor General attempted to pressure the SBI in cases against anti-corruption activists, Director Oleksii Sukhachov avoided serious consequences, and the agency’s work continued unchanged. His contract is set to expire soon, necessitating the formation of a selection committee to elect a new head.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs remained stable, except for the Border Guard Service, where General Serhii Deineka resigned voluntarily due to old cases that were reactivated following his dismissal.

The Office of the President’s attempt to undermine the independence of NABU and SAPO triggered large-scale personnel changes. Kravchenko quickly pivoted to working with parliamentary politicians against the former head of the Office of the President, thereby strengthening his position. This demonstrated to the president that the balance of power within the law enforcement agencies has shifted, and the redistribution of influence is still ongoing.

According to Ukrainska Pravda’s sources, the president simultaneously maintained control over the security forces while weakening those who demonstrated independence during Yermak’s fall. After the events of “Mindich-gate,” Bankova finally abandoned the illusion of total control over the security vertical.

To provide background, in January 2026, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko included lawyer Oleksiy Shevchuk in the selection commission that would choose the leadership of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. He is known as a defender of Ilya Kyvaі and a subject of journalistic investigations.

According to the data of the NGL.media news outlet, Shevchuk is featured in materials regarding the illegal smuggling of military-age men abroad via the “Shlyakh” system. According to this investigation, over 200 men of conscription age left Ukraine and did not return. Previously, Shevchuk also supported the “dictatorial laws of January 16”і and hosted a program on media resources linked to Viktor Medvedchukі .

In 2023, the bar association revoked his license for violations of professional ethics. Prior to this, it was also temporarily suspended due to a public post containing insults directed at veteran and lawyer Masi Nayem.