The never-ending list of Ukrainian officials probed by corruption agencies NABU and SAPO is getting longer by the day.
The least surprising news coming out of the Kiev regime is that some high officials have been arrested, fired, or are under investigation for corruption, money laundering, and related crimes.
A non-exhaustive list includes Tymur Mindich, Volodymyr Zelensky’s longtime business partner, accused of being the organizer of the $100 million Energoatom kickback scheme: 10-15% kickbacks were retained on contracts at the state nuclear operator. Mindich escaped Ukraine and left for Israel.
Zelensky’s right-hand man, Andriy Yermak, resigned in November 2025, following searches that led to suspicion of laundering over UAH 460 million (~$10.5 million) through the ‘Dynasty’ luxury housing project.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov was charged with abuse of office and receiving illicit benefits.
Herman Halushchenko: former Energy and Justice Minister, detained in February, trying to escape Ukraine by train. He has been charged with participation in a criminal organization and money laundering in the Energoatom $100 million scheme.
Former Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, has been dismissed and is under investigation for suspicion of money-laundering, forging documents, and unduly influencing judges/prosecutors.
A few days ago, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko resigned after his office was raided over an alleged protection racket for scam call centers run from inside his office.
It’s important to understand that NABU e SAPO are independent agencies, widely understood to be backed by the western powers that bankroll Kiev’s war effort.
Last year, Zelensky tried to defang these agencies, leading to mass protests in several Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau (NABU) has forced out a prosecutor-general, two cabinet ministers and the president’s chief of staff. It has more than 60 lawmakers under investigation.
NABU: We stop the activities of those officials currently in office, rather than waiting for… pic.twitter.com/suHdwWBGGI
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) September 12, 2026
So, now, the new top aide reportedly under investigation is the new chief of Presidential office, Budanov.
RT reported:
“Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Kirill Budanov is being investigated by Western-backed anti-corruption detectives over possible crimes committed during his tenure as head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), a source familiar with the matter has told RT.
[…] The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has launched a new probe into Budanov over possible wrongdoing during his tenure in the intelligence agency GUR, which he headed from 2020 to 2026.
Last month, Ukrainian media linked Budanov to a money laundering scandal involving his now-fired deputy in Zelensky’s office, Irina Mudraya. NABU accused her of orchestrating a scheme to use bags of cash to pay bail for former Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who is a suspect in a separate graft case involving Zelensky’s inner circle.”
Zelensky’s chief of staff suspect in new investigation into corruption / bribery.
Kirill Budanov, formerly head of military intelligence, is suspected of financial crimes.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is independent and Western backed.
Zelensky had… pic.twitter.com/4TIHyytCgt
— Alternative News (@AlternatNews) September 12, 2026
OCCRP reported:
“The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, has said courts should determine the significance of recordings that have raised questions about his involvement in an alleged $3.3 million money-laundering scheme aimed at securing bail for a former minister detained in a sprawling energy sector corruption probe.
Authorities have not publicly named Kyrylo Budanov and he has not been charged, but court documents obtained by the Ukrainian news outlet hromadske appear to identify him participating in a conversation concerning the money laundering.
Responding to questions about the tapes, Budanov told hromadske that any determination regarding the recordings should be made by a judge. ‘Let the court figure out who appears where’, he said.
The allegations are linked to the ‘Midas’ case, a vast corruption investigation centered on alleged bribery, embezzlement, and illicit financial control within Ukraine’s energy sector. Investigators believe the scheme was masterminded by businessman Timur Mindich, whose network has implicated several high-ranking government officials. A separate but related investigation concerns the alleged laundering of funds through state-owned banking infrastructure to post bail for former Energy and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko.”
Read more:
OPERATION ‘FOREST GUMP’: Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Agencies Launch Major Operation Against Deputy Chief of Staff in Zelensky’s Office
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