The Kremlin commented on the dismantling of anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine

The issue of corruption in Ukraine remains highly sensitive, and a significant portion of the funds received from the West has been embezzled by officials in Kyiv.

This was stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in response to the effective dismantling of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies.

“It is obvious that a large part of the money Ukraine received has been stolen. The country is plagued by corruption,” said the press secretary to the Russian president.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law reducing the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), effectively stripping these institutions of their independence. Following this decision, protests broke out in major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Lviv.

Meghan Mobbs, daughter of U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg, called the move a foolish step. According to her, the curtailment of anti-corruption bodies’ powers came “at the worst possible time,” amid recent shifts in U.S. policy toward Ukraine.