President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Iryna Mudra, a deputy head of the presidential office, after anti-corruption detectives uncovered a criminal group that allegedly organised 150 million hryvnias — roughly €2.9 million — to post bail for former justice minister Herman Halushchenko. Mudra confirmed the search on Facebook and said she had submitted her own resignation.
Investigators seized stacks of cash during raids and charged Sense Bank director Oleksii Stepuk alongside current and former lawmakers. The prime suspect, Timur Mindich, fled the country before arrest. Energy Minister Svitlana Hryntchuk and Justice Minister Halushchenko were also removed from office.
The sweep follows the raids on Mudra and Stolar launched Tuesday and intensifies scrutiny of Zelenskyy's inner circle: former office chief Andriy Yermak was released on bail in May after allegedly laundering some €9 million with businessmen. Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed last month, has called for fresh elections citing inadequate anti-graft efforts, while parliament confirmed Yevhenii Khmara as his replacement and Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister.