Ukrainian Domestic — 2026-08-21

Zelensky Dismisses Senior Presidential Aide Iryna Mudra Amid 3.3 Million Dollar Money Laundering Investigation

BLUFZelensky's same-day dismissal ahead of formal charges suggests the Presidential Office views a notice of suspicion as likely within 90 days and is preemptively cauterizing political exposure.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed decree No. 734/2026 on August 19 dismissing Iryna Mudra as deputy head of the Presidential Office, the same day NABU and SAPO detectives conducted investigative actions at her premises under an operation codenamed "Forest Gump" 12. NABU and SAPO said the operation targeted an alleged criminal organization involving a current and former member of parliament, senior Presidential Office officials, and leadership of a state-owned bank, and that suspects were notified of suspicion under Ukraine's criminal code for laundering 150 million hryvnias ($3.3 million) in proceeds through shell-company accounts at state-owned Sense Bank 3. MP Vadym Stolar confirmed investigative actions at his home and said he is cooperating with NABU 14. Mudra's attorney, the Miller Law Firm, said in a published statement that she was not detained, is preparing for a court hearing with her lawyers, and offered her resignation the day the investigation became public 3.

Analysis
Zelensky's same-day dismissal signals the Presidential Office moving to distance itself before formal charges land rather than waiting on judicial process, pressuring Budanov to disclose more about internal vetting; NABU and SAPO will likely serve Mudra with a formal notice of suspicion within 90 days, given detectives already conducted investigative actions at her premises and named a deputy head of the office among the suspected group. Moderate confidence reflects converging primary reporting on the search and dismissal, with two independent primary outlets confirming the decree, but no independent confirmation yet that Mudra is the unnamed official referenced in NABU's video. A parallel probe into Stolar and Sense Bank leadership widens exposure into state banking governance. The dismissal may instead reflect routine political distancing from an unproven allegation, consistent with her attorney's framing that she volunteered her resignation before any charge was filed. A formal notice of suspicion against Mudra would force Budanov to review vetting and reporting lines inside the office; absent it, the dismissal stays a closed personnel matter.

4 sources