How handmade posters forced a U-turn on Ukraine's anti-corruption oversight in July 2025
In short: In July 2025, Ukraine witnessed its first major anti-government demonstrations since the 2022 Russian invasion. Known as the Cardboard protests, citizens mobilized across multiple cities to challenge a legislative move that threatened to dismantle the independence of the nation's primary anti-corruption watchdogs, ultimately forcing a rapid government reversal.
The unrest began following the passage of Bill No. 12414 on 22 July 2025. This legislation, which had been amended after its initial reading, effectively stripped the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of their autonomy. The law granted significant new oversight powers to the Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, a known loyalist to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Reports from outlets like Ukrainska Pravda and The Economist suggested the strategy was orchestrated by the President's Office, specifically under the direction of Andriy Yermak, following investigations that had reportedly caused friction within the administration.
Public reaction was swift. Following an appeal by war veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, hundreds—and by some accounts, a thousand—protesters gathered in Kyiv, with additional demonstrations in cities including Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. Participants, many of whom were young people inspired by the legacy of the Euromaidan movement, used handmade cardboard signs to voice their dissent, leading to the movement's moniker. Critics argued the law would allow the government to selectively target corruption cases, a concern echoed by European Union officials who labeled the move a regression in Ukraine's integration efforts.
Despite President Zelenskyy initially defending the law on Telegram as a necessary measure to remove Russian influence, the pressure from the streets proved decisive. By 23 July, the President announced plans to submit new legislation to restore the agencies' independence. Following the introduction of Bill No. 13533, which the anti-corruption bodies confirmed would reinstate their full safeguards, parliament passed the measure on 31 July. Zelenskyy signed the bill into law the same day, acknowledging the importance of responding to public sentiment. By 1 August, reports confirmed the protests had concluded, marking a rare instance where civil pressure successfully reversed a controversial legislative agenda during wartime.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 anti-corruption protests in Ukraine
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