Ukraine’s legislature has approved legislation reinstating autonomy for two anti-corruption agencies, effectively reversing a measure passed last week that triggered the largest demonstrations since Russia’s invasion began three years ago.
As the bill cleared parliament on Thursday afternoon, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the building in Kyiv, chanting, “The people hold the power.”
“Solidarity is crucial during war, but even more essential is upholding the principles our soldiers are fighting for,” said Oleksandra, a 19-year-old economics student who participated in every protest since they started last week. “I’m glad the government has heard us.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy will likely view the new law as a resolution to what could have escalated into a domestic political crisis, easing concerns among European partners who privately cautioned that the earlier changes risked damaging Ukraine’s democratic standing. He signed the legislation shortly after its approval.
The decision came as Russian airstrikes continued to target Ukrainian cities nightly. In Kyiv, an overnight assault killed at least eight people, including a six-year-old. A missile strike early Thursday caused part of a nine-story apartment building to collapse, injuring 82 individuals, among them 10 children.
Earlier in the week, another major attack left more than 25 dead, hitting a prison and a maternity hospital in eastern Ukraine.
Donald Trump recently adopted a firmer stance toward Russia, shortening a proposed 50-day window for ceasefire negotiations to “10 or 12 days,” stating he had seen no genuine willingness from Vladimir Putin to de-escalate the conflict.
Following the latest strikes, Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to increase pressure on Moscow. “Today, the world witnessed Russia’s response to our calls for peace alongside America and Europe… Strength is necessary for peace to be possible,” he wrote on Telegram.
Before the parliamentary session, Kyiv endured hours of explosions, disrupting another night's sleep for its residents. Nevertheless, hundreds still assembled near the legislature during the vote, continuing a series of recent protests mostly led by young Ukrainians.
The bill passed with 331 votes in favor and none opposed—a swift reversal from last week’s legislation, which Zelenskyy’s ruling party had supported.
That earlier measure had weakened the authority of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sapo), both designed to operate independently in pursuing high-level corruption cases. The changes would have placed them under the oversight of the president’s appointed prosecutor general.
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