Zelenskyy Fires Deputy as Ukraine Corruption Probe Widens

Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies launched a major operation against an alleged criminal organization involving current and former lawmakers and senior presidential office officials. Zelenskyy fired deputy presidential chief of staff Iryna Mudra on the same day investigators searched her property.

• 150 million hryvnias (£2.5m) was allegedly laundered to post bail in a separate graft case.
• Six suspects were charged in connection to the probe, tied to Operation Midas.
• Lawmakers Vadym Stolar and former MP Maksym Mykytas are also named in the operation.
• Sense Bank officials, including CEO Oleksiy Stupak, are also under investigation.

Why it matters: The operation is the latest in a series of high-level cases that have drawn in Zelenskyy's closest circle. His former chief aide Andriy Yermak was arrested in May on money-laundering charges. Yermak's lawyer has called the allegations baseless.

• Operation Midas, announced in November, targets an alleged $100 million scheme involving Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear energy company.
• Zelenskyy has not been personally implicated; NABU's director stated Tuesday he is not a subject of any investigation.

How 9 sources split on this story

Where they split: Whether the anti-corruption actions reflect a functioning accountability system or evidence of entrenched, systemic corruption at the top of government is the core dispute.

What’s next: Fedorov, fired in July, called for a wartime presidential election — the first major figure to do so.

• Fedorov may travel to the US as soon as next week to seek American backing.
• Will investigators formally name Mudra or other presidential office officials as suspects?
• How will ongoing corruption cases affect Western aid commitments and political support for Zelenskyy?
• Could Fedorov's election call gain traction domestically or with US officials?