Last night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law what appeared to be a reversal of years of hard work to combat corruption in Ukraine. Almost immediately, Ukrainians took to the streets in protest—across the country. No one stopped them. No one was shot.

Today, Zelensky tried to explain the move as necessary to keep Russian influence out of the Ukrainian government. But he gave no concrete examples of how removing autonomy from two semi-independent anti-corruption bodies—NABU and SAP—would prevent Russian infiltration in Kyiv.

Sensing an opportunity, the Kremlin and its American proxies pounced. Russian state media, and the usual chorus of bad-faith actors in the U.S., rushed to frame the story in a way that was both pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian. (You have to wonder—if Ukraine framed its war effort as keeping illegal immigrants (Russia) out, would MTG and Charlie Kirk suddenly change sides?)

So what’s the real takeaway here?

First, Ukraine inherited a deeply entrenched Soviet and post-Soviet culture of corruption. This is not a problem solved in a few years—or even a few decades. It’s the work of generations. And while Zelensky might be right about the underlying risk, he’s chosen the worst possible solution—if he’s telling even part of the truth. Gutting the semi-autonomous structure of Ukraine’s top anti-corruption agencies doesn’t send a signal of reform. It sends a signal that you’re part of the grift.

As for the dutiful right-wing idiot patrol in the U.S.—they’re not serious actors. They’re just fighting to remain relevant. Ignore them every chance you get.

Finally, as someone who watched a Ukrainian government turn snipers and kidnap-squads on its own people in 2013, the protests I saw yesterday were nothing short of beautiful. Peaceful, proud, unafraid. That’s the real news. That’s the real takeaway. Freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are both necessary parts of a Liberal Democracy. The war continues. On both fronts. One facing off against Russia. Another facing off against corruption.

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This text is published with the permission of the author. First published here.