Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed senior aide Iryna Mudra on the same day she said anti-corruption investigators had notified her of suspicion in a case involving the alleged laundering of 150 million hryvnias ($3.3 million).
Zelenskyy removed Mudra as deputy head of the Presidential Office without giving a reason for the move.
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in an official video that their operation, codenamed “Forest Gump,” had uncovered a group that allegedly laundered criminal proceeds through the formal financial system.
According to investigators, the group included a deputy head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, a former member of parliament, the chair of the management board of a state-owned bank, the chair of its supervisory board and others. The authorities did not identify them by name in the video.
The 150 million hryvnias in cash was allegedly moved through accounts belonging to shell companies and then used to post bail for an alleged member of a criminal organization investigated in the separate “Midas” corruption case. The video did not identify the person whose bail was paid.
Investigators said the group used state-owned Sense Bank and accounts belonging to companies under its control. The organizers allegedly obtained de facto control of the bank in early June, which investigators said enabled the scheme. Recordings released by NABU appear to show participants discussing how to divide, transport and process the cash without attracting the attention of law enforcement or financial monitoring systems.
The money was allegedly delivered in several installments, passed through a conversion center described in the recordings as a “laundry,” and deposited into company accounts before being used for the bail payment. The person was released from custody on June 29, according to NABU.
NABU said the suspects had been notified of suspicion under Ukraine’s Criminal Code for laundering criminal proceeds as part of an organized group.
Sense Bank confirmed in a statement that law enforcement officers had conducted investigative activities at its headquarters concerning “certain individuals.” The bank said it was cooperating with authorities but could not disclose details of the pre-trial investigation.
Miller Law Firm, which said it would defend Mudra, published an English-language statement on her behalf.
“I was not detained. Together with my lawyers, I am calmly preparing for the court hearing,” Mudra said, adding: “Accountability applies to everyone, myself included.”
Mudra said she had cooperated fully with investigators. She described the published conversations as fragmented and out of context and said she would respond in detail after reviewing the case materials.
She claimed she offered her resignation the same day and would defend her reputation through legal proceedings.
