Dismissal on the day of searches
On August 19, 2026, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed decree №734/2026, according to which Iryna Mudra was relieved of her duties as Deputy Head of the Presidential Office. The decision became known on the same day that searches were conducted at Mudra's premises as part of an anti-corruption investigation. The investigative actions were carried out by NABU and SAP. For Russian-speaking readers: these two bodies are the key anti-corruption institutions of Ukraine, so their actions regarding a staff member of the Presidential Office are perceived as a significant signal.
The investigative actions were part of the special operation “Forest Gump.” It aims to determine the origin of 150 million hryvnias that are believed to have been deposited as bail for former minister Herman Halushchenko, a figure in the “Mindyuch case.” The operation is focused on investigating possible ties to a criminal organization potentially involving current and former members of parliament, high-ranking officials of the Presidential Office, and other individuals. As part of the same special operation, searches were also conducted at MP Vadym Stolar, who entered the Verkhovna Rada from the now-banned party “Opposition Platform — For Life.”
Documents and audio recording
At the time of the searches, Mudra held the position of Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, led by Kyrylo Budanov. According to the Bureau, detectives found a document with a crisis communication plan for the work of the temporary investigative commission of the Verkhovna Rada. NABU also released a fragment of an audio recording of conversations among probable participants in the corruption scheme.
“Dismiss Iryna Romanivna Mudra from the position of Deputy Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine” — states decree №734/2026.
The reasons for this decision have not been publicly explained by either Zelensky, Budanov, or Mudra herself. The coincidence of the dismissal with the searches, as well as the course of the anti-corruption operation, may indicate serious shifts in Ukrainian politics, where the fight against corruption is coming to the forefront. This step could impact public perception of anti-corruption initiatives in the country and the stability of the Presidential Office amid the ongoing battle against corruption.
According to information obtained during the special operation, searches were conducted not only at Mudra's premises but also at other high-ranking officials, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the potential scale of corruption schemes. These events may have far-reaching consequences for Ukrainian politics and anti-corruption initiatives, requiring careful analysis and understanding of current processes in the country.