Zelenskyy Fires Top Aide Amid Corruption Probe and Election Demands

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Iryna Mudra, the deputy head of the Office of the President, by decree on August 19, 2026. The removal follows an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) into operation Forrest Gump. Investigators allege a criminal organization laundered 150 million hryvnias (approximately $3.4 million) through Sense Bank to pay bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko in the Midas corruption case. Mudra stated she was notified of suspicion and intends to defend her reputation in court.

This scandal coincides with a political challenge from former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was ousted in July. Fedorov released a video address demanding national elections to address what he termed a systemic crisis of governance. Zelenskyy has rejected these demands, maintaining that the constitution prohibits elections under martial law.

Amid this instability, the Verkhovna Rada approved the appointment of Evgeniy Khmara as the new defense minister on Wednesday, with 312 votes in favor. The reshuffle follows weeks of protests in Kyiv over Fedorov's dismissal. The administration continues to face scrutiny over graft, including the May arrest of former chief aide Andriy Yermak on money-laundering charges, as the European Union cites deep-seated corruption as a primary obstacle to Ukraine's membership.