Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Anton Kovalskyi as acting prosecutor general after the incumbent, Ruslan Kravchenko, resigned following anti‑corruption raids on his office.

Appointment details and timing

The BBC Europe service reports that the appointment took place on a Thursday in mid‑September 2026, specifically 17 September 2026. The article notes that Kovalskyi is 42 years old and was named by Zelensky to replace Kravchenko, who had stepped down the previous week.

Anti‑corruption searches and alleged scheme

Anti‑corruption bodies – the National Anti‑Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) – conducted searches of Kravchenko’s offices in September 2026. Both agencies said the searches uncovered a money‑laundering network operating from the prosecutor‑general’s office. According to the agencies, the scheme received money to protect illegal call‑centres that carried out phone‑scams and then laundered “millions in assets”. The laundered proceeds were reportedly used to purchase property, jewellery and other valuables.

Kravchenko publicly denied any involvement, describing the allegations as “completely unsubstantiated”. He resigned a day after the searches and left Ukraine, according to the same BBC report.

“The allegations are completely unsubstantiated,” Kravchenko said in his statement.

Political context and implications

The appointment arrives at a sensitive moment for Ukraine’s wartime governance. Zelensky’s decision signals an attempt to restore confidence in the prosecutor‑general’s office while the anti‑corruption investigations continue. Analysts note that the swift replacement may be intended to contain political fallout and demonstrate that the government will not tolerate corruption, even at the highest levels.

However, the BBC article does not confirm the exact appointment date as 21 September 2026, a detail that appears in other briefings but lacks independent verification. The only confirmed timing is the Thursday in mid‑September, which aligns with the 17 September date.

What remains unknown

Several questions remain unanswered. The precise amount of money laundered has not been disclosed, nor have the identities of the call‑centres involved. NABU and SAP have not released a full report on the investigation, and it is unclear how many officials beyond Kravchenko’s office may have been implicated. Zelensky’s administration has not indicated whether Kovalskyi will conduct a review of ongoing investigations or implement structural reforms within the prosecutor‑general’s office.

Key facts

• President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Anton Kovalskyi as acting prosecutor general.
• Kovalskyi, 42, was named on Thursday 17 September 2026.
• Ruslan Kravchenko resigned after anti‑corruption agencies searched his offices.
• The searches were linked to investigations of illegal call‑centre operations.
• NABU and SAP said a money‑laundering scheme operated from Kravchenko’s office, laundering millions of euros.
• Proceeds were allegedly used to buy property, jewellery and other valuables.
• Kravchenko denied involvement, calling the allegations “completely unsubstantiated”.

Until the anti‑corruption agencies publish a detailed findings report, the full scope of the alleged network and its impact on Ukraine’s justice system will remain uncertain.