Key facts
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Deputy Chief of Staff Iryna Mudra.
- The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is investigating Mudra for alleged money laundering and corporate raiding.
- The scheme reportedly involves a current member of parliament and a former lawmaker.
- Tapes released by NABU feature Mudra, lawmaker Vadym Stolar, and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas.
- The investigation is linked to a multimillion-dollar bail payment for a suspect in a previous corruption case.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed his deputy chief of staff, Iryna Mudra, following an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) into alleged money laundering and corporate raiding. The NABU released tapes implicating Mudra, current lawmaker Vadym Stolar, and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas in a scheme that allegedly involved illegally seizing real estate.
The investigation is reportedly linked to a multimillion-dollar bail payment for a suspect in a previous corruption case. The NABU stated that the group comprised a deputy head of the presidential office, a former lawmaker, and heads of state-owned bank boards.
Mudra, a lawyer and former deputy justice minister, began her career in banking and corporate law before joining state-owned Oschadbank, where she secured a $1.3 billion arbitration award against Russia. She later served as Deputy Minister of Justice and was appointed Deputy Head of the Presidential Office in March 2024, with responsibilities including international justice and judicial reform.
This development comes amid broader anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, which are seen as critical for the country's aspirations for European Union membership. The probe also follows a previous graft investigation linked to Zelensky's former top aide, Andriy Yermak.