Zelensky's Office Under Corruption Investigation; Ousted Minister Demands Elections

Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies announced Wednesday they are investigating high-ranking officials in President Volodymyr Zelensky's office. This development occurred just a day after the recently dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for elections, amidst the ongoing struggle against Russia's invasion.

The announcement presents another test of political resilience for Zelensky as the country continues to resist the Russian invasion. Investigators identified a group of individuals who allegedly laundered 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million) to pay bail for an official accused of corruption last year. This case, involving the state-owned nuclear energy company, had previously led to the resignation of the Justice and Energy ministers.

Among the latest suspects are a deputy head of the presidential office, a former lawmaker, the chairman of a state bank's board, and the head of that bank's supervisory board, according to the agency. Zelensky has not publicly commented on the investigation, but he issued a decree dismissing Iryna Mudra from her position as deputy head of the presidential office.

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The announcement presented another test of political resilience for Zelensky as the country continues to resist the Russian invasion.

Zelensky faces persistent high-level corruption investigations. Last year, his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned and was later named a suspect in a major anti-corruption probe related to a luxury construction project. This marked the most significant threat to Zelensky's government since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

The European Union has identified deeply rooted corruption as a primary obstacle to Ukraine's desired accession to the bloc. Zelensky is already under pressure following the dismissal last month of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a long-serving member of his team and a close ally since he helped him win the 2019 presidential election. Zelensky risked angering both factions by reorganizing his wartime leadership, dismissing Fedorov, whose military procurement changes aimed to eradicate corruption, and Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi. This move sparked days of street protests supporting Fedorov.

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