Full Breakdown
Ukraine Prosecutor General Resigns Amid Massive Call-Center Corruption Probe
9/9/2026, 6:37:19 AM
Core Event: Resignation of Ruslan Kravchenko
In early September 2026, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko resigned after NABU and SAPO raided offices used by him and senior staff. The operation, “Operation Carthage,” targeted a network that allegedly protected fraudulent call centres for bribes and money-laundering. Kravchenko denied involvement and called his departure a “political decision.”
Background & Context
The scandal involves call centres impersonating banks, law-enforcement agencies or investment advisers to defraud victims in Ukraine, Russia and the EU. Investigators say the scheme began in mid-2025 and included serving prosecutors. After a failed attempt by President Zelenskyy to curb NABU’s independence in 2025, the agencies intensified surveillance, recording conversations to build their case.
Data & Statistics
- Protected call centres allegedly paid $7,000 (£5,200) per month in protection money.
- The network employed about 60,000 people across Ukraine.
- Five alleged members were identified, including deputy head of the Prosecutor General’s International Legal Cooperation Department, Serhii Kropyva.
- Kropyva was detained; on Nov 2 a court set bail at 120 million hryvnias (? $2.7 million).
- NABU released images of a cash-filled safe, noting the money was linked to the senior official, not Kravchenko.
Official Statements & Responses
President Zelenskyy thanked Kravchenko’s colleagues for documenting Russian war crimes and acknowledged the resignation as a “political decision.” Deputy chair of the Verkhovna Rada’s law-enforcement committee, Andriy Osadchuk, called the scandal a catalyst for reform and urged open competition for senior prosecutorial posts.
Criticism & Opposition
Transparency advocate Olena Tregub called the revelations “organized crime, not merely corruption,” emphasizing the racket’s role in scamming millions across Europe. She praised NABU’s recordings for “outsmarting” other law-enforcement bodies and “changing the culture in Ukraine.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether Kravchenko is the “boss” heard in recordings. Some cite a patronymic “Andriiovych” and a former role heading the State Tax Service—details matching Kravchenko—yet NABU has not named him a suspect. Officials stress the cash-filled safe belongs to the detained senior official, leaving the money’s exact location unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a political decision, and I have made it consciously. I do not want the position of Prosecutor General to be used as an instrument of political confrontation,” — Ruslan Kravchenko
- “I do not want the position of prosecutor general to be used as an instrument of political confrontation,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- “It will be very difficult for Ukraine to move forward if we do not change the approach to selecting and appointing the prosecutor general and prosecutors at lower levels,” — Andriy Osadchuk
What’s Next
The resignation must be accepted by President Zelenskyy and the Verkhovna Rada to take effect. Parliamentary debate is expected in the coming weeks. NABU and SAPO continue to pursue additional network members, and the High Anti-Corruption Court will review Kropyva’s bail and charges. The case is likely to influence reforms of Ukraine’s prosecutorial system and its EU accession prospects.
