Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing the deepest crisis of his presidency after a money laundering investigation named members of his inner circle, including an aide accused of living in “golden toilet” luxury, a former government official claims.
Their comments came as the president faced scrutiny over the investigation that agencies said Monday involves associates allegedly linked to a plot to siphon about $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector during its war with Russia.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kiev, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AP)
“People in the country already see this corruption and this is just part of the corrupt swamp. Zelenskyy is part of the problem,” they claimed.
Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s financial system has come under scrutiny and now some Ukrainians are accused of receiving kickbacks from projects meant to protect wartime power plants, sparking public outrage and undermining confidence in the government.
“This money laundering seemed to have been going on since 2022 and there were a lot of people trying to stop it,” the former official said.
“Some say Zelensky was aware of these plans and approved them,” they claimed.
“There was also a suspicion that money ended up in accounts abroad benefiting Zelensky and his inner circle,” they said.
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Over 15 months, a sweeping investigation called “Operation Midas” by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) exposed the plans.
A major Energoatom investigation into Ukraine’s state nuclear power company and its energy contracts named businessman Tymur Mindich.
Mindich was co-owner of the entertainment company Kvartal 95 with the president and, according to The Kyiv Independent, Mindich is said to be the leader of that network.
The Financial times also reported that investigators found bags of cash and a gold-plated toilet in one of his apartment’s bathrooms.
TOP UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS IN ZELENSKYY GOVERNMENT SUBMIT AGAINST $100 MILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears alongside other government officials in a video posted on social media, promising to defend the country against a Russian invasion. (Armed Forces of Ukraine)
“They were introduced many years ago and ran the activities of 95 Kvartal, including film production and many other entertainment genres,” the former official claimed.
“Tymur had an apartment with golden toilets that was in the same building as Zelenskyy’s, and in 2021 Zelenskyy celebrated his birthday in Tymur’s apartment,” they said.
Another figure under investigation, Oleksiy Chernyshov, is a former deputy prime minister.
“He was also very close to the family and had held positions in the Zelensky government since 2019, and he was accused of abuse of office,” the former official alleged.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was seen speaking at his inauguration ceremony in the Ukrainian parliament. (Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
“Chernyshov began to build big, three or four big houses in their most luxurious place in Kiev.”
So far, Zelenskyy said in his late-night speech on November 10:
“Anyone who devised a corrupt scheme must receive a clear legal answer. Criminal sentences must follow.”
He emphasized the importance of responsibility in the energy sector and said keeping Energoatom free from corruption is a priority.
ZELENSKYY GOES TO THE ‘CLEANSING’ OF UKRAINE’S ENERGY SECTOR, WHEN CORRUPTION SCANDAL CHANGES LEADERSHIP
The Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet for their preparatory talks in 2022. (Sergei Kholodilin/BelTA Pool photo via AP)
Zelenskyy also praised the efforts of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, saying:
“Any effective action against corruption is desperately needed. The inevitability of punishment is necessary.”
“Zelenskyy is using his extraordinary PR talents and will not resign in this investigation,” the former official claimed. “Zelenskyy is not the kind of person who is ashamed even if there is a corruption investigation going on… Zelenskyy got everything out of this war. He had vertical power, an unbreakable image, all the media attention. For some, he really depends on this and on money,” they added.
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“Many Ukrainians now believe in Donald Trump because he is the only person who has actually changed the narrative and changed the way this war is going,” the official said. “If not [for] Donald Trump, we wouldn’t be talking about peace at all today, and every day of war destroys Ukraine.”
