Ukraine Launches Anti-Corruption Raids

Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies launched an operation on Wednesday targeting lawmakers and presidential advisers, just hours before parliament was due to vote on a new defense minister. Details of the investigation have yet to be released.

The operation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) came ahead of a vote on the appointment of Yevhen Khmara, a former special forces commander nominated to succeed Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov's dismissal in July triggered rare wartime protests and a wider political crisis for President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Tuesday evening, Fedorov called for presidential elections to be held despite the war, arguing that Ukraine needed a mechanism to restore the democratic process under martial law. His dismissal the previous month had brought thousands of protesters onto the streets, with demonstrators demanding his reinstatement and praising his efforts to reform the defense establishment.

The political turmoil also contributed to pressure on Zelensky to dismiss armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, who had clashed repeatedly with Fedorov over military reform. Zelensky eventually replaced Syrskyi with Mykhailo Drapatyi, a younger commander who enjoyed considerable support among protesters and within sections of the military.

Ukraine's independent anti-corruption agencies have continued investigating senior officials despite the war with Russia. Their independence and effectiveness are also closely watched by the European Union as Ukraine pursues membership of the bloc.

(Reuters, bak)