Ukraine Sees First Anti-Government Protests Since War Began July 22, 2025 Kyiv and Dnipro, Ukraine Thousan

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📰 Ukraine Sees First Anti-Government Protests Since War Began
🗓️ July 22, 2025
📍 Kyiv and Dnipro, Ukraine

📄Thousands of Ukrainians, including war veterans, took to the streets of Kyiv and Dnipro to protest a new law signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky that critics say undermines the independence of the country’s anti-corruption institutions.

This marks the first major anti-government demonstration in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The protest was sparked by Zelensky’s approval of legislation that significantly expands the powers of the Prosecutor General. This includes the ability to appoint or reassign investigations previously handled by independent bodies like the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

The new law, passed by the Ukrainian parliament and swiftly signed by Zelensky, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and opposition lawmakers, who say the move concentrates power under the guise of wartime necessity.

Protesters carried banners reading “Welcome to Russia,” accusing the administration of adopting authoritarian tendencies similar to those in Moscow.

Opposition MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, who voted against the bill, warned that the legislation is “an attempt to end the independence of anti-corruption bodies,” adding, “Small democracies can defeat big dictatorships, but small dictatorships are eventually swallowed by larger ones.”

The unrest is also being linked to the recent naming of former Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshov—an ally of Zelensky—as a suspect in a corruption case. The anti-corruption service reportedly forced his resignation last week. Shortly after, Ukrainian prosecutors and security agents raided both anti-corruption agencies and arrested one official on suspicion of spying for Russia.

The controversial bill has raised international concerns. A European Commission spokesperson warned that the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions is “crucial to the reform agenda.” Germany’s Foreign Ministry echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that these bodies are vital for maintaining public trust and securing Ukraine’s path to reform.

Analysts believe the backlash may intensify if Zelensky’s government continues to centralize power or target watchdog institutions. There are also fears the move could jeopardize Ukraine’s EU accession process, as transparency and anti-corruption reforms remain key conditions for membership talks.

The protests signal growing domestic unease over democratic backsliding amid wartime governance. As public trust becomes increasingly strained, Ukraine’s Western allies may also push for more accountability in the coming months.

🔗 Reported from Kyiv, Ukraine – World News War Correspondence Desk

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