Ukraine anti-graft agencies uncover laundering group linked to presidential official
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced the discovery of a group tied to a presidential deputy head, coinciding with political turmoil following the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov.
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced on Wednesday the discovery of a group linked to money laundering involving 150 million hryvnias ($3.35 million). The funds were allegedly used to pay bail in an energy corruption scheme, with the group reportedly including a deputy head of the presidential office, a former lawmaker, and executives from a state-owned bank.
The agencies launched the special operation against lawmakers and presidential advisers hours before a key parliamentary vote on the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara as the new defence minister. In a YouTube video, NABU and SAPO stated the group comprised a deputy head of the presidential office, a former lawmaker, heads of the management and supervisory boards of a state-owned bank, and others. They did not name the individuals, citing Ukrainian law.
The probe presents a fresh challenge for President Volodymyr Zelensky following a bombshell statement from ousted defence chief Mykhailo Fedorov on Tuesday, who called for wartime elections. Fedorov was dismissed from the defence ministry six months after his appointment, a move attributed to tensions with army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Fedorov has maintained his stance despite being offered other government posts, including deputy prime minister for military innovation.
Lawmakers were expected to vote on Wednesday on Khmara, a former top special forces operative, as Ukraine’s new defence minister. The appointment follows weeks of political turmoil and rare wartime protests in Kyiv, where thousands demonstrated demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement. The crisis also prompted Zelensky to replace the top military commander with Mykhailai Drapatyi, a move backed by protesters for his more troop-friendly approach aimed at reducing frontline losses.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have waged a high-profile campaign against graft, targeting senior officials as part of a process critical to preparing for European Union membership. The agencies stated that their work is essential to the country’s broader institutional reforms while the military continues to fight Russian forces.
