Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced a fresh corruption controversy on Tuesday, while also encountering the first high-profile domestic political figure to openly question his continued stay in power without elections.
Zelensky dismissed his deputy chief of staff, Iryna Mudra, who was responsible for justice and judicial reform issues within the Presidential Office, as Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) carried out searches linked to an ongoing investigation.
Money-laundering investigation
NABU announced that it is conducting a special operation targeting an alleged criminal organisation reportedly led by one sitting and one former Ukrainian MP, with the alleged involvement of senior figures connected to the Presidential Office.
A Ukrainian law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent that Mudra is among those under scrutiny.
According to NABU, suspects are accused of laundering approximately 150 million hryvnias, equivalent to around $3.4 million, allegedly linked to bail funds paid in a separate corruption case.
The investigation also involves the chief executive officer and the chairman of the supervisory board of the state-owned Sense Bank.
The elections debate
The scandal erupted just before the successor to former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov takes up his new duties.
In recent days, Fedorov has become the first public figure in Ukraine to openly challenge Zelensky on the issue of elections.
The 35-year-old called for mechanisms that would allow democratic elections to take place despite the war, saying in a recorded message that Ukraine must find a lawful, safe and realistic way to restore its full democratic process, even under the conditions of a prolonged conflict.
"We must find a lawful, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore its full democratic process."
Fedorov's popularity has grown since his unexpected dismissal by Zelenskyy last month, a move that sparked protests.
According to a SOCIS poll cited by Ukrainian outlet NV, Zelensky currently commands around 22% support, compared with 21% for former armed forces commander and current ambassador to the UK Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and 13% for Fedorov.
Polling also suggests that both Zaluzhnyi and Fedorov could defeat the incumbent president in a second-round vote.
Wartime restrictions
Ukraine has remained under martial law since February 2022, a legal framework that prohibits elections for security reasons.
Analysts estimate that even under a ceasefire, at least six months would be required to establish a new legislative framework for elections.
Significant practical challenges also remain, including registering millions of displaced citizens and ensuring the participation of approximately one million military personnel serving on the front lines.
Zelenskyy still competitive
Despite being affected by repeated scandals, Zelenskyy continues to be viewed as a strong contender in any future election, according to opinion polls.
He remains ahead of most traditional political rivals.
The Ukrainian president's approval ratings reached around 90% in the months immediately following Russia's full-scale invasion but have since fallen to roughly 60%, depending on the survey.
Political analysts and pollsters believe his ratings were particularly damaged by a major corruption scandal in the energy sector in 2025, although they say he appears to have partially recovered since then.
