Protests erupted in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a second day against a new law impacting anti-corruption agencies, with President Volodymyr Zelensky promising to introduce a bill to strengthen the independence of NABU and SAPO. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated the new bill could be shared with parliament as early as tomorrow, with lawmakers potentially convened next week. The protests follow the Verkhovna Rada's passage of a law that critics argue undermines anti-corruption efforts. Thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets in cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhia, and Chernivtsi, demanding the reversal of the law. President Zelensky acknowledged the public's concerns, stating, "Everyone has heard what people are saying these days... It's not falling on deaf ears." He added that he would propose a bill to the Verkhovna Rada as a response to these concerns. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos urged Ukraine to reverse the law, warning it threatens EU membership progress, with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stating, "As a corrupt country, Ukraine will not make it into the EU." Military commanders Kyrylo Budanov and Kyrylo Veres have supported measures taken by law enforcement agencies to uncover Russian agents and FSB "moles" within NABU, urging society to avoid internal disputes. They believe such disputes primarily benefit the enemy. The Verkhovna Rada has gone on holiday until August 20. MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn commented that authorities might be delaying the issue to reduce public resonance. David Arahamia, head of the "Servant of the People" parliamentary faction, defended the law, stating it does not involve the liquidation of NABU, SAPO, or NAPC, nor does it dismantle anti-corruption infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukraine is expected to receive promised Patriot systems from the United States no earlier than spring 2026, with the first system arriving in at least eight months, according to Spiegel. Germany is first in line for a replacement battery, expecting theirs in spring 2026. In a separate development, a suspected administrator of http://xss.is, a major Russian-speaking cybercrime forum, was arrested in Ukraine as part of an operation led by France with Europol support. The suspect allegedly made €7 million facilitating cybercrime over nearly 20 years. Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met with President Zelensky, becoming the first Israeli official in three years to condemn Russia's strikes against civilians. Russia reportedly plans to change its conscription system, legalizing conscription throughout the year instead of the traditional spring and autumn drafts.
