Ukrainian authorities launched a major anti-corruption sweep on August 19, 2026, targeting senior presidential staff and leading to the dismissal and detention of former presidential deputy chief Iryna Mudra. The operation investigates an alleged criminal syndicate involving parliamentarians and state bank governance.
The Raid and the Dismissal of Iryna Mudra
President Volodymyr Zelensky acted swiftly to remove Iryna Mudra from her post as deputy head of the presidential office following early-morning raids conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu). Investigators searched the homes of both Mudra and sitting parliamentarian Vadym Stolar as part of a sweeping probe into high-level graft within the administration.
Mudra held responsibility for judicial systems and court reforms inside the presidential office. Following the initial searches, Kyiv’s High Anti-Corruption Court ordered a 60-day custodial detention for the former official alongside a set bail of 20 milioni di grivne, equivalent to approximately 380 mila euro.
Posso confermare che la Nabu sta conducendo indagini nella mia abitazione. Sto collaborando pienamente con l’ufficio e non sto ostacolando in alcun modo il lavoro delle forze dell’ordine. Vadym Stolar, Member of Parliament
Sense Bank and the Alleged Laundering Scheme
According to joint statements from Nabu and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo), the targeted organization operated under the direction of former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas and the fugitive deputy Vadym Stolar. Investigators state that the group gained control of the governance structure of Sense Bank, a state-owned financial institution nationalized in 2023.
The network allegedly exploited its institutional positioning to funnel 150 milioni di grivne, roughly 2,9 milioni de euro, in illicit funds. Prosecutors assert that these financial movements were intended to pay the maxi-bail for former Energy and Justice Minister Herman Galushchenko, who was arrested earlier in the year under the separate Midas
corruption inquiry.
Interceptions, Denials, and the Defense Strategy
Wiretaps also captured discussions regarding senior law enforcement appointments, including a frank assessment of the anti-corruption prosecutor. In one intercepted audio clip presented by the state, Mudra remarked, Se lo riconfermano siamo fregati
regarding the potential reappointment of Anti-Corruption Prosecutor General Oleksandr Klymenko.
Political Fallout and Institutional Pressures
The raids on the presidential office arrive during an already tense political climate for the Zelensky administration. Last year, former chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigned amid major corruption investigations that shook the executive branch. The current anti-corruption sweep also coincides with broader public friction stemming from the recent departure of popular former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Fedorov publicly challenged the administration by calling for national elections despite ongoing wartime conditions. In a video message, Fedorov stated that the country must find a legal and secure mechanism that would allow Ukraine to restore a fully democratic process even in the middle of a prolonged war as political pressures mount on multiple fronts.
Next Legal Steps and Unresolved Questions
With Mudra’s initial detention secured by the anti-corruption court, her defense team is weighing formal appeals against the judicial restrictions. Meanwhile, anti-corruption agencies continue examining the broader network allegedly directed by Mykytas and Stolar, leaving open questions regarding whether additional high-ranking officials within state institutions will face formal charges as the investigation progresses.
