Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a senior official from his presidential office amid an ongoing corruption investigation that has implicated a deputy head of the office in a money-laundering scheme. The move followed revelations by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau naming a group accused of laundering 150 million hryvnias (approximately £2.5 million) to pay bail for a defendant involved in a graft case linked to the state-owned nuclear power company.

The case has already led to the resignations of Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers. In addition to the deputy presidential official, the investigation has identified suspects including a former politician, the chairperson of a state bank’s board, and the head of the bank’s supervisory board. Although President Zelensky dismissed Iryna Mudra, the deputy head of the presidential office, investigators have not officially named her as a suspect. Authorities conducted a search of her office following the dismissal.

While Zelensky himself has not been implicated in the graft probes, the allegations represent a fresh political challenge for the president, who has faced periodic corruption scandals during his tenure. Notably, his former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned last year and was later named a suspect in a separate corruption inquiry related to a luxury construction project. Corruption remains a significant obstacle to Ukraine’s aspirations for European Union membership.

These developments come against a backdrop of political tension following Zelensky’s recent reshuffling of Ukraine’s wartime leadership. Last month, he fired Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, one of the longest-serving members of his team and known for implementing military procurement reforms aimed at reducing corruption. Zelensky also dismissed Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi. These personnel changes sparked public protests supporting Fedorov and reflected Zelensky’s attempts to resolve friction between younger, technology-focused defence officials and established military commanders with Soviet-era experience.

In a critical response, Fedorov on Tuesday called for national elections, which are constitutionally prohibited under Ukraine’s current martial law. He asserted the need to restore democratic processes despite ongoing conflict and described the governance crisis, criticizing a system he said prioritizes self-preservation over reform. He also condemned corruption among officials for weakening Ukraine’s war effort, though he did not specify individuals.

Zelensky’s office has not publicly commented on Fedorov’s statements. The unfolding corruption investigation and leadership disputes underscore continuing challenges facing Ukraine’s government amid Russia’s more than four-year military invasion.