Ukraine has seen the first anti-government protests since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago, as a move by President Volodymyr Zelensky to curb anti-corruption agencies sparked fury across the nation.

A law curbing the independence of anti-graft agencies triggered the first street protests of the war and rare rebukes from European allies.

Zelensky promises new law in response to anti-corruption protests as peace talks begin - Kyiv’s attack on powers of anti-corruption agencies branded ‘serious step back’ for country’s EU membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a new bill that critics says weakens the country's anti-corruption agencies.

On the evening of 23 July, protests began in various Ukrainian cities over draft law No. 12414, which restricts the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a law that reduces the powers of NABU (the National Anti-Corruption Bureau) and SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office). She is seeking clarification, states European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier.

The move to curb anti-corruption agencies risked "endangering the values of freedom, democracy in our country and the future of our children," one Ukrainian told NBC News.

The demonstrations erupted outside the president’s office after Ukraine’s Parliament approved a law that would effectively strip independence from the anticorruption bureau.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday renewed his offer to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, but hopes of progress were low as delegations prepared to hold another round of talks.