The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, officially appointed Ruslan Kravchenko as the country’s Prosecutor General through an executive order
This decision marked a logical conclusion to a lengthy process that lasted several months and signals a new phase in Ukraine’s justice system. The announcement of the appointment appeared in official sources on June 21, when the relevant decree was published on the president’s website. This event was the result of intensive internal political work, as at the beginning of summer, Zelensky had submitted Kravchenko’s candidacy to the Verkhovna Rada for the position of the highest prosecutor of the state. The story of this appointment began even earlier, on June 16, when the president submitted an appropriate request to parliament. This was due to the fact that since October 2024 of the previous year, the position of Prosecutor General had remained vacant. Until then, the duties had been performed by First Deputy Oleksii Khomenko, who acted as the interim head of the prosecutor’s office until the appointment process was completed. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of parliamentarians, on June 17, the “Servant of the People” faction supported Kravchenko’s candidacy during a meeting, and this support was subsequently confirmed by the relevant parliamentary committee on law enforcement activities. The committee members unanimously approved the candidate, providing grounds for the Verkhovna Rada to give its consent to the appointment. On the very same day, the Rada adopted a resolution to approve the candidate and gave the president the green light to proceed with the appointment. Ruslan Kravchenko brings over a decade of experience in the field of justice and law enforcement. His candidacy was seen as an opportunity for renewal and strengthening the work of the prosecutor’s office, increasing transparency, and fighting corruption. Therefore, political forces and expert circles closely followed this process. This decision is significant in the context of Ukraine’s current political and legal system. The main focus now is on the initial steps that the new Prosecutor General will take in reforming the prosecutor’s office, combating violations, and strengthening public trust in the justice institutions. In light of this event, it is important to recall that the previous Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, faced a challenging journey—from a close associate of Ermak to a high-profile resignation, which triggered changes within the prosecutor’s office. It is believed that these leadership changes reflect the government’s desire to pursue reforms, eliminate old corruption schemes, and create a more effective legal system to protect citizens. Overall, this appointment became a landmark event in the country’s political life, demonstrating the government’s intention to take steps toward aligning with European standards for fighting corruption and enhancing the rule of law in Ukraine. It is expected that the new Prosecutor General, Ruslan Kravchenko, leveraging his experience and ambitions, will become a key figure in the reform of the justice system and the reinforcement of the rule of law for the benefit of Ukrainian society.