Zelensky dismisses deputy chief of staff Iryna Mudra after 150 million hryvnia anti-corruption raid

Presidential decree and morning raids

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed his deputy chief of staff, Iryna Mudra, on 19 August 2026, following a coordinated anti-corruption operation targeting senior presidential officials. The dismissal decree appeared on the official presidential website without stating a specific motive. Earlier that morning, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) announced a special operation against an alleged criminal organization run by a sitting lawmaker and a former parliamentarian. Detectives searched properties connected to Mudra, who led judicial affairs and judicial reform within the presidential administration, as well as the home of parliamentarian Vadym Stolar. Stolar, a member of the Restoration of Ukraine parliamentary group, confirmed the search on Facebook and stated that he is cooperating fully with investigators.

Laundering funds for minister bail

The investigation, codenamed Operation Forrest Gump, forms a new phase of the Mida corruption inquiry that previously led to the resignation of former chief of staff Andriy Yermak. Investigators allege that the criminal network laundered 150 million hryvnias (approximately 2.8 million euros) to pay bail for former energy minister German Galushchenko, who was detained in connection with procurement bribes at Energoatom. The funds were allegedly routed through accounts at the state-owned Sense Bank, involving the cooperation of bank executives and construction businessman Maksim Mikitas.

According to investigative findings, four separate corporate entities transferred the laundered bail money into official accounts to secure Galushchenko's release. Wiretapped conversations recorded by detectives detailed physical exchanges involving bags of cash and direct references to the presidential office. Anti-corruption prosecutors also point to businessman Timur Mindich, an associate of Zelensky who fled abroad, as an organizer of the broader scheme.

Ministry reshuffle and political pressure

The anti-corruption actions unfolded as the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed Yevheniy Khmara as the country's new defense minister. Khmara replaces Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed from the defense post in July. Following his removal, Fedorov released a video criticizing systemic governance failures and official corruption, while urging the state to organize presidential elections despite ongoing martial law. Under martial law regulations in force since 2022, Ukrainian elections remain suspended.

Anti-corruption reactions and scrutiny

Lawmakers from the ruling Servant of the People party reacted to the raids by supporting the investigative agencies. In December 2025, NABU had indicted five lawmakers from the party for accepting cash in exchange for parliamentary votes. Verkhovna Rada deputy Sviatoslav Yurash noted that wartime conditions must not hinder domestic accountability.

I am extremely encouraged that, in our country, the war is not an excuse to avoid fighting this ancient and ever-present evil, namely corruption.

The current probe represents another test for Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, whose independence survived legislative challenges in 2025 following domestic and international opposition. Kyrylo Budanov, the former military intelligence chief who heads the presidential office, remains in charge of the administration as investigators examine additional officials linked to the banking transfers.