Zelenskyy fires presidential office deputy amid corruption probe

EuroNews · 🇫🇷 public France · Aug 19, 2026 · 299 words · By Sasha Vakulina

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What to know about Zelenskyy fires presidential office deputy amid corruption probe

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau said it had launched an operation linked to an alleged criminal organisation involving current and former MPs and senior officials in the presidential administration.

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired the deputy head of the presidential office Iryna Mudra on Wednesday, his office announced, on the same day the country's anti-corruption investigators launched a major operation targeting an alleged criminal…

Common ground

Ukrainian media reported that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) had searched premises linked to Mudra and member of parliament Vadym Stolar.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Zelenskyy fires presidential office deputy amid corruption probe?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau said it had launched an operation linked to an alleged criminal organisation involving current and former MPs and senior officials in the presidential administration?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/19/ukraine-anti-corruption-investigat…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

help Insufficient Evidence 1

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau said it had launched an operation linked to an alleged criminal organisation involving current and former MPs and senior officials in the presidential administration.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including the NABU official website and news reports, confirm the launch of an operation targeting a criminal organization involving current/former MPs and senior presidential office officials.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Corruption in Ukraine since the country became an independent state in 1991 is a societal issue rooted in the dissolution of the Soviet Union that year. Following independence, Ukrainian politicians …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Ukraine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Holos (Ukrainian: Голос [ˈɦɔlos] , lit. 'Voice' or 'Vote') is a liberal and pro-European political party in Ukraine, led by Kira Rudik. The group was founded by Ukrainian musician Svyatoslav Vakarchu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holos_(Ukraine)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Націона́льне антикорупці́йне бюро́ Украї́ни, abbr. НАБУ, romanized: Natsionalne antykoruptsiine biuro Ukrainy, abbr. NABU) is a Ukrainian l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anti-Corruption_Burea…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “NABU has released excerpts from intercepted conversations as part of the operation”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the release of intercepted conversations by NABU.

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Claim 3: “The investigation, dubbed “Forest Gump,” is the latest high-profile corruption probe to reach Zelenskyy’s administration.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results about Microsoft and does not mention the 'Forest Gump' investigation.

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web search NEUTRAL — Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company became influential in the rise of personal computers through software like Windo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft

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web search NEUTRAL — Uncover the power of Microsoft's products, apps, and devices designed to simplify your life and fuel your passions. Explore our comprehensive range and unlock new capabilities.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-products-and-apps

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web search NEUTRAL — Do what you love. Create the future you want. Explore the career options that Microsoft has to offer Stage.
https://careers.microsoft.com/

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Claim 4: “She previously served as a deputy justice minister.”

CORROBORATED

One source explicitly states she previously served as deputy justice minister, and another (Euractiv) confirms she served as deputy minister of justice from 2022 to 2024.

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web search NEUTRAL — How to fly to Millersburg? You cannot fly directly to Millersburg. KAYAK recommends you fly to Akron/Canton (CAK) (35.25 miles from Millersburg). From there you can rent a car or get a taxi. What airp…
https://www.kayak.com/flight-routes/United-States-US0/Miller…

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web search NEUTRAL — Oct 7, 2015 · Compare flight schedules and journey times to find the best options for your needs, whether you're looking for cheap flights to Millersburg or the best millersburg flight deals to explor…
https://www.expedia.com/Cheap-Flights-To-Millersburg.d133465…

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web search NEUTRAL — We offer a wide selection of affordable Millersburg flights to help you travel within your budget. With our competitive prices, you can spend less on airfare and more on enjoying the attractions in Mi…
https://www.flights.com/Cheap-Flights-To-Millersburg.d133465…

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Claim 5: “He now sits with Restoration of Ukraine, a parliamentary group formed largely by former members of the banned party.”

CORROBORATED

The 'HEAD POST' source explicitly states that Stolar now sits with the Restoration of Ukraine faction, which is composed largely of former members of the banned party.

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Claim 6: “Ukrainian media reported that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) had searched premises linked to Mudra and member of parliament Vadym Stolar.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web sources report that NABU searched premises linked to both Iryna Mudra and MP Vadym Stolar.

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web search NEUTRAL — The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is searching the premises of Iryna Mudra, a presidential deputy chief of staff, and Vadym Stolar, a member of parliament, a law enforcement source familiar w…
https://en.apa.az/europe/nabu-searches-presidential-deputy-c…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ukrainian media outlets report that searches were conducted at premises associated with Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office overseeing legal affairs and judicial reform, as well as Mem…
https://buzb.uz/en/news/nabu-and-sap-launch-anti-corruption-…

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web search NEUTRAL — NABU and SAPO are conducting searches at the premises of Member of Parliament Vadym Stolar and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra.
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/795373a7_nabu_and_sapo_conduct/

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Claim 7: “Mudra is responsible for legal affairs and judicial reform in the presidential office.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Iryna Mudra was responsible for legal affairs and judicial reform in the presidential office.

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web search NEUTRAL — Mudra is responsible for legal affairs and judicial reform in the presidential office. She previously served as a deputy justice minister. Stolar was elected to parliament as a member of the pro-Russi…
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ukraine-anti-corruption-investigat…

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web search NEUTRAL — I spoke recently with Iryna Mudra, the second highest government official of Jewish background in Ukraine (after President Volodymyr Zelensky). As Deputy Head of the President's Office for Legal Affai…
https://ukrainianjewishencounter.org/en/ukraines-number-two-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Professional Trajectory of Iryna Mudra: From Banking to Presidential Administration. Iryna Mudra’s career trajectory is marked by steady progression through the financial and legal sectors.
https://lstv.co.uk/news/opinion/iryna-mudra.html

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Claim 8: “Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired the deputy head of the presidential office Iryna Mudra on Wednesday”

CORROBORATED

The dismissal of Iryna Mudra is confirmed by multiple independent sources, including a specific reference to Decree No. 734 of August 19.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Andriy Smyrnov (Ukrainian: Андрій Олександрович Смирнов; born 20 January 1981, Kyiv) is a Ukrainian statesman and jurist. He was the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine from Septembe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriy_Smyrnov

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Denys Leontiyovych Maliuska (Ukrainian: Денис Леонтійович Малюська; born 19 November 1981) is a Ukrainian lawyer, businessman and politician. From 29 August 2019 to 4 September 2024, he was Minister o…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denys_Maliuska

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Iryna Romanivna Mudra (Ukrainian: Ірина Романівна Мудра, romanized: Iryna Romanivna Mudra; born 26 July 1975) is a Ukrainian lawyer who was the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, r…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iryna_Mudra

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Stolar was elected to parliament as a member of the pro-Russian Opposition Platform - For Life, which was banned after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.”

CORROBORATED

Confirmed by multiple sources and Wikipedia that Vadym Stolar was elected via the Opposition Platform - For Life, which was banned after the 2022 invasion.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Restoration of Ukraine, also translated as Repair of Ukraine, (Ukrainian: Відновлення України, romanized: Vidnovlennya Ukrayiny, pronounced [widˈnɔu̯lenʲːɐ ʊkrɐˈjinɪ]) is a parliamentary group in the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_of_Ukraine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Vadym Mykhailovych Stolar (August 10, 1982, Kyiv) is a Ukrainian businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He served as a People's Deputy of Ukraine in the 6th and 9th convocations. He also served …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadym_Stolar

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Yuriy Anatoliyovych Boyko (Ukrainian: Юрій Анатолійович Бойко, Russian: Юрий Анатольевич Бойко; born 9 October 1958) is a Ukrainian politician who served as Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine between 2012…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriy_Boyko

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said they were conducting an operation to uncover what they described as a “criminal organisation operating under the leadership of a current and a former Ukrainian MP and involving senior officials in the presidential office””

CORROBORATED

The specific description of the operation as targeting a 'criminal organization' led by current and former MPs involving senior presidential officials is confirmed by NABU's official website and other news reports.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Artem Sytnyk (Ukrainian: Ситник Артем Сергійович; born August 19, 1979, Kompaniivka, Kirovohrad Oblast) is a Ukrainian lawyer, former prosecutor's investigator, first director of the National Anti-Cor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artem_Sytnyk

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Ukrainian: Спеціалізована антикорупційна прокуратура, romanized: Specializovana antykorupcijna prokuratura, abbr. САП, SAP or SAPO) is an independe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialized_Anti-Corruption_Pr…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.