Ukraine Anti-Corruption Bureau Targets Presidential Office Officials

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) launched Operation Forrest Gump to dismantle a criminal organization involving high-ranking officials from the Office of the President of Ukraine. The investigation centers on the alleged laundering of $3.5 million in cash through shell companies and Sense Bank to post bail for a defendant in the previous Midas case.

Key targets of the operation include Iryna Mudra, deputy head of the Presidential Office, and Member of Parliament Vadym Stolar. During the raids, investigators seized an anti-crisis communications playbook intended to shield President Volodymyr Zelensky and his cabinet from public scrutiny. Stolar confirmed that investigative actions were conducted at his residence.

This operation is linked to the broader Midas scandal involving alleged kickbacks at the state nuclear company Energoatom. That earlier case implicated businessman Tymur Mindich, who fled to Israel to avoid arrest, and former Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, who was charged with laundering approximately $10.5 million.