The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this in its latest assessment.Experts note that Russian authorities, propagandists, and pro-Kremlin media are trying to undermine Western trust in Ukraine and reduce support, especially military aid. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for example, has claimed that the Ukrainian government is allegedly embezzling U.S. and EU funds. Other pro-Kremlin figures accuse Ukraine of misusing Western aid and call on the West to replace the leadership in Kyiv.These claims are false: most Western military assistance is not sent directly to Ukraine but is spent in the U.S. or EU countries on training, technical support, intelligence, and more.“The Russian claims about Ukrainian corruption aim to exploit ongoing policy discussions and deter additional Western aid to Ukraine,” the report says.Analysts noted that protests in Ukraine are not anti-war, but the Kremlin deliberately portrays them as demonstrations against President Zelenskyy to create division between Ukraine and its Western allies. This is part of Putin’s information strategy — to weaken Western support, buy time, and achieve success on the battlefield by exhausting Ukraine’s partners.Ukraine’s anti-corruption lawsOn July 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill passed by the Verkhovna Rada that includes provisions limiting the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), placing their activities under the authority of the Prosecutor General. The bill’s status card was updated three times: initially marked as signed by the president, then the note disappeared, and later the signature of Zelenskyy reappeared.After the vote in the Verkhovna Rada, thousands of Ukrainians in major cities held peaceful protests, demanding that the president veto the law that significantly limits the powers of the anti-corruption agencies.The European Union has expressed serious concern over Ukraine’s adoption of Law No. 12414, which limits the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. According to European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier, these institutions are vital for anti-corruption reforms and must operate independently to maintain public trust and support Ukraine’s EU integration.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen personally addressed President Zelenskyy, demanding an explanation and stressing that compromising the rule of law is unacceptable—especially given Ukraine’s EU candidate status.EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that weakening NABU’s independence is a “serious step backward” and could undermine Ukraine’s EU membership prospects.Representatives of France and Germany also voiced concern, urging Kyiv to revise the law and preserve institutional safeguards for these bodies’ independence.Overall, Brussels believes the law threatens Ukraine’s institutional resilience, democratic direction, and Western support—especially in light of the ongoing war and its EU aspirations.On July 23, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the preparation of a presidential bill concerning the functioning of the law enforcement system.“I will submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a bill that will serve as a response and strengthen the law enforcement system. There will be no Russian influence or interference in the work of law enforcement agencies, and—very importantly—all provisions ensuring the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be included. I also expect proposals from our group of heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies, and from the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, regarding the necessary legal provisions,” Zelenskyy stated.“This will be a presidential bill, and we will implement it as part of our national transformation strategy,” he added.However, on the morning of July 24, it became known that members of parliament had drafted and submitted their own bill to the Verkhovna Rada aimed at restoring the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.