Ukraine's Prosecutor General Resigns Amid Bribery Probe Involving Scam Call Centers

Prosecutor General's Resignation

Ruslan Kravchenko, Ukraine's prosecutor general, resigned this week. He stated his decision was political and aimed at preventing his position from being used in political confrontation. Kravchenko has not been charged and denies protecting fraudulent call centers.

Bribery Allegations and Investigation

Kravchenko's resignation follows an investigation by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies into a criminal organization. Investigators allege that since mid-2025, officials within the Prosecutor General’s Office collected bribes from fraudulent call centers. These bribes were reportedly in exchange for ensuring law enforcement did not disrupt their operations, which targeted victims in Ukraine and abroad.

Key Suspects and Detentions

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) identified five suspects in the case. Among them is Serhii Kropyva, a senior official in the Prosecutor General’s Office, who was detained. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) described Kropyva as a "trusted associate" of Kravchenko. A Ukrainian anti-corruption court ordered Kropyva held in custody with bail set at 120 million hryvnias (approximately $2.7 million). He is suspected of laundering assets worth over 89 million hryvnias (roughly $2 million) and has been suspended from his duties.

Kravchenko's Denial and Office's Record

Kravchenko has denied any involvement in protecting illegal call centers, stating he gave no instructions to facilitate such activity. He highlighted his office's record against fraudulent call centers, noting over 1,000 searches, 340 call center shutdowns, and the dismantling of more than 5,000 operator workstations in the past year. However, recordings released by NABU have raised questions about the extent of the alleged scheme within the Prosecutor General’s Office.