- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed deputy head of the presidential office Iryna Mudra on Wednesday.
- The move comes hours after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies said they had uncovered a group suspected of money laundering, which included a senior presidential official.
- The two anti-corruption agencies reported that they had uncovered a group including a presidential official that had laundered 150 million hryvnias ($3.35m) used to pay for bail in an energy corruption scheme.
- Mudra, who had been in her role since March 2024, joined a long list of Zelenskiy allies to be tied to corruption investigations.
- The swelling cases against several close Zelenskiy allies have contributed to a fall in the president’s approval rating and sparked concern among western partners who have provided billions to keep the country afloat and support its military.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed deputy head Iryna Mudra on Wednesday amid a corruption investigation that has raised alarms about graft within his administration.14
The dismissal followed reports from Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, which revealed they had uncovered a money laundering scheme involving 150 million hryvnias ($3.35 million). This scheme allegedly involved a senior presidential official, although specific names were not disclosed.
Mudra, who had been in her position since March 2024, is the highest-profile figure to be implicated in the ongoing investigations.
The anti-corruption agencies stated that the funds were used to pay for bail in an energy corruption scheme, further complicating Zelenskyy's efforts to maintain public trust.
This incident is part of a broader pattern, as several of Zelenskyy's close allies have faced similar allegations, contributing to a decline in the president's approval ratings.
The situation has sparked concern among Western partners who have provided substantial financial support to Ukraine, emphasizing the need for accountability in the face of corruption.
As investigations continue, the pressure mounts on Zelenskyy to address these issues effectively to restore confidence both domestically and internationally.
“The anti-corruption agencies revealed that a group, including a presidential official, laundered 150 million hryvnias ($3.35m) linked to an energy corruption scheme. This dismissal follows a series of graft allegations against Zelenskyy's close allies, contributing to a decline in his approval ratings.”
The Guardian
