Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have launched an investigation into an alleged criminal network involving senior officials in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, adding to mounting political pressure on the Ukrainian leader as the country continues its war against Russia.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday that investigators were conducting an operation targeting a suspected criminal organization allegedly led by a current and former lawmaker. The agencies said senior presidential office officials and other individuals were also allegedly involved, with further details expected to be released later.
Zelenskyy did not immediately comment publicly on the investigation. However, he issued a decree dismissing Iryna Mudra as deputy head of the presidential office.
The investigation represents another political challenge for Zelenskyy. Last year, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigned and was later named as a suspect in a major corruption investigation, creating one of the most serious political crises for the Ukrainian government since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The latest developments come amid broader turmoil within Ukraine’s wartime leadership. Zelenskyy dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov last month, despite Fedorov being a longtime ally who helped him win the 2019 presidential election. The decision sparked several days of public protests.
Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday approved Yevhenii Khmara as the country’s new defence minister. Khmara, who had been serving as acting minister, received the support of 312 lawmakers, well above the 226 votes required for approval.
The reshuffle has attracted particular scrutiny because Fedorov had pushed reforms aimed at modernizing military procurement and reducing corruption. Zelenskyy also removed commander-in-chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as part of changes to Ukraine’s wartime leadership.
Fedorov escalated the political pressure Tuesday by publicly calling for national elections despite martial law remaining in effect because of the war. In a video address, he argued that Ukraine needed to develop a “legal, safe and realistic mechanism” to restore a full democratic process even during a prolonged conflict.
Fedorov also accused Ukraine of facing a systemic governance crisis and criticized corruption among officials, saying it had weakened the country’s ability to wage war. He did not identify specific individuals in his remarks. Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately respond.
Zelenskyy has maintained that presidential elections cannot be held while martial law remains in force. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy because his presidential term formally expired in 2024, although Ukraine has not held elections because of the ongoing war.
The political upheaval comes as Ukraine has reported several battlefield and long-range strike successes. Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted Russian oil infrastructure, including a recent strike on a refinery in Ufa, about 1,300 kilometres east of the Ukrainian border.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 453 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions, occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.
Russian attacks on Ukraine have also continued. Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone struck a minibus in the southern Kherson region Wednesday, killing four people and wounding four women. A separate drone strike on a civilian vehicle in Kherson city killed another woman.
The combination of the corruption investigation, leadership changes and calls for elections presents Zelenskyy with a growing domestic political challenge at a time when Ukraine is also attempting to maintain Western support, strengthen its air defences and resist continuing Russian attacks.
