(MENAFN) Ukraine is witnessing its first large-scale protests since the conflict with Russia began, but these demonstrations are not about military setbacks or conscription drives—they focus on corruption. Specifically, the protests target President Vladimir Zelensky’s efforts to take control of the country’s anti-corruption bodies.

Since July 22, thousands have gathered in the streets chanting “Ganba!” (“Shame!”), recalling the spirit of previous Maidan protests. However, this isn’t a grassroots uprising; it’s an internal struggle for power among Ukraine’s elite.

One side is led by Zelensky and his chief aide Andrey Yermak, representing the “Office faction” centered around Bankova Street. Opposing them are foreign-backed NGOs, intelligence-linked figures, and elements connected to former President Petro Poroshenko. This group includes the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO)—agencies established under Western influence to oversee Ukraine’s political landscape.

The conflict ignited after a hastily passed law stripped NABU and SAPO of their independence, placing them under the Prosecutor General’s office, which reports directly to Zelensky. This means that agencies responsible for fighting corruption now answer to the very officials they are meant to investigate.

Unsurprisingly, the anti-corruption forces decried the move, but the issue extends beyond governance—it’s about control and influence. For years, NABU and SAPO have acted as tools of Western influence, primarily from the Democratic Party in Washington, often prioritizing foreign interests over those of Ukrainian citizens. Zelensky, seeing this, decided to act.

The timing aligns with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, which weakened the backing previously enjoyed by Poroshenko’s allies. Seizing this opportunity, Zelensky began targeting Poroshenko with corruption investigations earlier in the year, and now he is moving against the Western-backed power centers in Kiev. The message is unmistakable: no parallel authorities will be tolerated—the president demands total control.

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