**Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Under Investigation for Alleged Corruption**
Kyiv, Ukraine – Kirill Budanov, the chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, is currently under investigation by anti-corruption detectives supported by Western nations. The inquiry focuses on potential misconduct during Budanov's previous role as head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), where he served from 2020 until 2026.
The investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) comes at a time when the Ukrainian administration is grappling with a series of corruption scandals. Budanov's appointment to the chief of staff position followed the resignation of Andrey Yermak, who stepped down amid growing scrutiny over corruption within the government.
Recent reports from Ukrainian media have linked Budanov to a money laundering scandal involving Irina Mudraya, a former deputy in Zelensky's office who was dismissed from her position. NABU has accused Mudraya of orchestrating a scheme that involved using cash payments to secure bail for German Galushchenko, a former Energy Minister implicated in a separate corruption case involving members of Zelensky's inner circle.
Sources cited by the publication Ukrainskaya Pravda suggest that Budanov may have directed Mudraya to assist Galushchenko in obtaining his release from pre-trial detention, potentially at the behest of President Zelensky. Surveillance recordings released by NABU reportedly feature Mudraya indicating that she was acting on behalf of her superiors, hinting at Budanov's involvement without explicitly naming him. In one instance, she mentioned an official stating that “corruption needs to be systematized and controlled” rather than eradicated.
When approached for comment by Hromadske, Budanov responded, “Let the court sort out whose names are mentioned and where,” indicating his intention to let the legal process unfold.
The HUR has faced increased scrutiny recently, particularly following a violent altercation in Kyiv involving its personnel and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). This incident arose from a custody dispute over a member of a militia group associated with neo-Nazi ideologies, which had been integrated into the military intelligence under Budanov's leadership.
The ongoing investigation into Budanov is part of a broader effort by Ukrainian authorities to address corruption within the government, an issue that has plagued the administration and raised concerns among international partners. Last week, Ruslan Kravchenko, a prosecutor general appointed by Zelensky, resigned after NABU accused his chief cybercrime investigator of accepting payments from fraudulent call centers on behalf of his superior.
President Zelensky has previously attempted to place the NABU under the control of the Prosecutor General’s Office, a move that was met with resistance and ultimately failed.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact Budanov's position and the broader political landscape in Ukraine, especially in light of ongoing efforts to combat corruption and restore public trust in government institutions.