Zelenskyy's Office Probed Amid Ex-Minister's Call for Wartime Elections
Zelenskyy's Office Probed Amid Ex-Minister's Call for Wartime Elections
Ukraine faces fresh political turmoil as anti-corruption agencies probe Zelenskyy's office, while a fired defense minister demands elections. A critical moment for wartime leadership.
Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies have launched an investigation into senior officials within President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office. This major development comes just a day after the country's recently dismissed defense minister called for national elections, even as Ukraine continues its arduous fight against Russia's invasion, now in its fifth year. This political turbulence presents an unwelcome distraction for the war-torn nation.
A joint statement from Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office revealed that investigators are working to uncover a criminal organization. This group is allegedly led by a sitting and a former lawmaker, with involvement from senior officials in the presidential office and other individuals. Further details about this operation are expected to be released soon by the agencies.
This revelation marks another significant test of Zelenskyy's political resilience. Last year, his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned and was later implicated in a major graft probe, which was considered the most substantial threat to Zelenskyy's government since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Zelenskyy is also currently under pressure following his decision last month to fire Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov was a long-standing member of Zelenskyy's team and a close ally, having played a key role in his 2019 presidential election victory. The President aimed to ease tensions between the defense ministry's younger, tech-savvy innovators and Ukraine's experienced, Soviet-trained military leaders by reshuffling his wartime command. This move saw both Fedorov, who was working to eradicate corruption in military procurement, and Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi ousted.
The dismissal of Fedorov triggered days of street protests in his support. This marks the second time in a year that a wartime decision by Zelenskyy has sparked strong public backlash. Previously, in mid-2025, he faced criticism after attempting to curb the powers of anti-corruption agencies. Fedorov's call for wartime elections, made in a video address, adds another layer of complexity to Ukraine's political landscape during a critical period of conflict.
