Kiev, Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that he plans to present a new anti-corruption bill to the Ukrainian parliament.

This comes after opponents criticized a recent law, passed by lawmakers and approved by Zelenskyy, claiming it undermined the independence of anti-corruption agencies by increasing government oversight over their functions.

Zelenskyy emphasized the need to expedite investigations, enhance accountability, and eliminate “Russian influence” from anti-corruption efforts, though he didn’t offer specific instances of such interference.

In an unexpected turn, Zelenskyy revealed he had drafted a new bill aimed at genuinely strengthening the country’s legal system regarding corruption. He mentioned in a Telegram post that preserving the independence of oversight bodies is crucial, as it is the only real way to ensure a lack of Russian ties.

The announcement seems to respond to mounting pressures that risk eroding public confidence in Ukrainian leadership amid the ongoing war with Russia. While protests have not explicitly called for Zelenskyy’s removal, they mark the largest anti-government demonstrations since the conflict began.

“It’s important that we remain united,” he stated.

However, many questions lingered. Zelenskyy noted that he had met with heads of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption and security agencies and allowed Parliament two weeks to suggest improvements to existing laws before he presents additional legislation.

Despite this reassurance, further demonstrations were planned for Thursday evening.

It’s also unclear if Zelenskyy intends to roll back the laws he recently approved. He provided no details about the new proposed legislation.

These developments have emerged during a challenging phase in the war, which escalated on February 24, 2022. Russian forces are intensifying efforts to breach Ukraine’s defenses and increasing artillery attacks in various cities.

Moreover, uncertainty surrounds whether the U.S. will increase military aid and if European support can adequately compensate for any shortfalls.

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks on Wednesday, yet again, these discussions yielded no significant progress.

For Ukraine, combating corruption is vital not only for EU aspirations but also to secure ongoing Western financial support amid the war. This is also crucial for maintaining public backing.

On Wednesday, Marta Kos, a member of the EU expansion committee, expressed grave concern about the new law, calling it a troubling development. The Ukrainian arm of Transparency International criticized the parliamentary decision, arguing that it undermines a key reform established during Ukraine’s dignity revolution in 2014, which could damage international partnerships.

In related news, Russian aircraft struck Kharkiv on Thursday morning, injuring at least 37 individuals, including a 28-day-old infant and a 10-year-old girl, according to local officials.

Authorities also reported attacks on Cherkassy in southern Ukraine, injuring 11 people, including damage to a historical landmark.

Ukraine is actively working to enhance its domestic technology to strengthen long-range drone attacks against Russia.

In overnight developments, two women were killed and 11 others injured during a Ukrainian drone strike on Sochi’s Black Sea resort according to local reports, though details on the attack remain scarce.