Former Zelenskyy deputy detained on $485K bail in massive corruption probe

Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) prosecutor requested detention or alternative bail set at $3.6 million (150 million UAH), citing severe flight risks.

The prosecution supported its motion with recorded phone conversations between Mudra and former Member of Parliament Maksym Mykytas regarding her contacts with high-ranking officials and state border guards, as well as a recorded conversation with her daughter discussing overseas residency.

The defense requested that the court refrain from imposing any preventive measure. During the hearing, two individuals offered personal sureties on Mudra's behalf, including Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Yonatan Binyamin Markovitch.

Commenting on the ruling, Mudra stated that she will attempt to secure the required bail sum, RBC-Ukraine reported. The former official noted that she possesses part of the funds personally and intends to rely on acquaintances and friends to cover the remainder.

"I have many friends and many contacts. Let me remind you how old I am. Over this time, I have gathered plenty of contacts," Mudra said.

Case against Iryna Mudra

On Aug. 21, the HACC scheduled a hearing to decide on preventive measures for the former deputy head of the Presidential Office, subsequently deferring the ruling until Aug. 24. Mudra's defense requested a closed-door hearing, citing the disclosure of private family information.

On Aug. 19, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mudra from her post as deputy head of the Presidential Office. Mudra is an alleged central figure in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) sting investigation codenamed Operation Forrest Gump, which dismantled a high-level criminal network involving senior Presidential Office officials, sitting and former lawmakers, Justice Ministry personnel, and banking representatives.

NABU earlier published intercepted audio recordings featuring key suspects discussing money transfers. The recordings feature a female voice identified by NABU subtitles as the "deputy head of the Office of the President," referencing "our Israeli refugee" Timur (likely referring to businessman Timur Mindich).

In addition to Mudra, suspects and persons of interest in the joint NABU and SAPO operation include:

• Sitting lawmaker Vadym Stolar (formerly of the banned OPZZh party), a central figure in investigative journalism on Kyiv real estate development, who confirmed searches at his properties and stated he is cooperating with law enforcement;

• Former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas, former head of the Ukrbud state construction corporation;

• Senior officials of the Ministry of Justice;

• Representatives of Sense Bank.

At the HACC session on Aug. 24, SAPO prosecutor disclosed fresh evidentiary details, quoting an intercepted conversation where Mykytas tells Mudra that he left her "nearly $4 million regarding Ukrbud." The prosecutor emphasized that these assets were never reported in Mudra's mandatory asset declarations.

Prosecutors cited wiretaps indicating that Mudra regularly received $20k per month in unexplained funds on top of her official state salary, noting that in January 2026, she allegedly acknowledged receiving an additional $30,000 beyond her official earnings.

According to investigative findings, Mudra intended to distribute portions of these illicit funds to other senior officials, including Viktor Dubovyk, Director General for Legal Policy of the Presidential Office.