Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Iryna Mudra as deputy chief of staff on Wednesday, following the launch of an extensive anti-corruption investigation targeting a criminal group allegedly linked to senior officials in his administration.
The investigation, conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), identifies a network involving a current parliament member, a former lawmaker, and executives from a state-owned bank—suspected to be Sense Bank.
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According to NABU, the group is accused of facilitating the laundering of approximately €3 million (150 million Ukrainian hryvnia) used as bail for a suspect connected to a prior corruption case.
This operation, termed “Operation Midas,” stems from a year-long probe into alleged corruption at Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear power enterprise—a case now regarded as the largest of Zelenskyy’s presidency.
The probe’s scope is expanding, with investigators tracing connections to former government officials and individuals with close ties to Zelenskyy.
From Midas to Forest Gump: Broadened Scope
NABU and SAPO announced “Operation Midas” in November 2025 after a year-long investigation.
Prosecutors claim members of a criminal syndicate exerted undue influence over Energoatom contracts, extracting 10-15% of supplier payments as kickbacks.
NABU estimates that around €85 million was laundered through this scheme.
Herman Halushchenko, former Justice and Energy Minister, faces charges of money laundering and involvement in the criminal network. NABU reported in February that over $7.4 million, €2.4 million, and 1.3 million Swiss francs linked to the scheme were transferred to his family.
The €3 million central to “Operation Forest Gump” is believed to represent bail for Halushchenko.
Leaked search warrants indicate Sense Bank was allegedly used to transfer bail funds.
NABU released audio recordings in which Mudra discussed Sense Bank and attempts to secure political support for it. In one call from June 2025, she stated, “They will not crack down on Sense Bank and Sense Bank must pay them.”
In another conversation, Mudra mentioned “Timur”—described as an Israeli refugee—who allegedly pressured her to assume responsibility for Sense Bank. This appears to reference Timur Mindich, Zelenskyy’s long-time associate and alleged key figure in the Midas scheme.
From Longtime Ally to Former Chief of Staff
Mindich, a co-owner of Kvartal 95 (a production company co-founded by Zelenskyy), was part of the president’s inner circle prior to entering politics. He is now a suspect in both Midas and the “Dynasty” investigation, which alleges laundering of over €8.8 million via a Kyiv-area luxury development project.
The Dynasty case also implicates Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff—a senior political confidant who oversaw domestic and foreign policy from 2020 to 2025.
In May 2026, NABU and SAPO named Yermak a suspect in Dynasty. A court ordered his detention conditional on a €2.7 million bail, which was paid. Yermak has since denied the allegations.
The investigation further implicates Oleksiy Chernyshov, a former deputy prime minister and close associate of Zelenskyy’s family.
Political Challenges Intensify
These probes coincide with a critical phase in Ukraine’s EU accession process. In June 2025, Ukraine and the EU began negotiations on the Fundamentals cluster, focusing on judicial independence, public procurement, and financial oversight.
The EU has emphasized that progress on this cluster will dictate the overall pace of Ukraine’s integration, intensifying scrutiny of national anti-corruption mechanisms.
Zelenskyy now faces heightened political pressure as multiple investigations target individuals close to him, including former officials and key allies. While not named in any case, his administration’s handling of these matters undermines his pledge to eradicate systemic corruption.