Ukraine corruption scandal rocks Zelenskyy’s inner circle amid war

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is struggling with the deepest crisis of his presidency following a money laundering investigation into members of his inner circle, including an associate accused of living in “golden toilet” luxury, a former government official has claimed.

The comments come as the president faces scrutiny over an investigation that agencies said Monday involved associates allegedly linked to a conspiracy to funnel nearly $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector during the war with Russia.

“The Ukrainians don’t have any motivation to fight right now because of the massive human rights violations and also the corruption that’s emerging right now,” the former official told Fox News Digital on condition of anonymity.

FORMER ZELENSKYY PARTNER charged in $100 MILLION embezzlement scheme

“People in the country already see this corruption and it is just part of the corruption swamp. Zelenskyy is also part of the problem,” they claimed.

Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s financial system has come under scrutiny, and some Ukrainians are now accused of taking kickbacks from projects to protect power plants in wartime, sparking public anger and undermining faith in the government.

“This money laundering appeared to have been going on since 2022, and there were many people trying to stop it,” the former official said.

“Some say Zelenskyy was aware of these plans and approved them.”

“There were also suspicions that the money was transferred to accounts abroad to benefit Zelenskyy and his inner circle,” they said.

PAST: WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE ZELENSKYY MEETS WITH TRUMP IN THE OVAL OFFICE

An extensive investigation by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), called “Operation Midas”, lasting more than 15 months, uncovered the plans.

Businessman Tymur Mindich has been named in the major Energoatom investigation targeting Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company and its energy contracts.

Mindich co-owned the entertainment company Kvartal 95 with the president, and Mindich was allegedly the ringleader of that network, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Finance Times He also reported that investigators found bags of cash and a gold-plated toilet in one of his apartment’s bathrooms.

SENIOR UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS IN THE ZELENSKY GOVERNMENT RESIGNED OVER $100 MILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands alongside other government officials and promises to defend the country against Russian invasion in a video posted on social media. (Armed Forces of Ukraine)

“They were introduced many years ago and were running the business of 95 Kvartals, which included film production and many other forms of entertainment,” the former official said.

“Tymur had an apartment with a golden toilet in the same building as Zelenskyy, and in 2021 Zelenskyy celebrated his birthday in Timur’s apartment,” they said.

Another person under investigation, Oleksiy Chernyshov, is a former deputy prime minister.

“He was also very close to the family and had been serving in Zelenskyy’s government since 2019 and was accused of abuse of power,” the former official said.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REMAINED SILENT WHILE THE MAJOR CORRUPTION SCANDAL IN UKRAINE DROPPED ZELENSKYY’S INNER CIRCULAR

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was seen speaking at the opening ceremony in the Ukrainian parliament. (Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket)

“Chernyshov began to build large, three or four huge houses in the most luxurious place in Kiev.”

Zelenskyy said so far in his night speech on November 10:

“A clear legal response should be given to anyone who prepares a corruption plan. Criminal decisions should be made.”

He emphasized the importance of accountability in the energy sector and said keeping Energoatom clean of corruption was a priority.

ZELENSKYY TAKES ACTION TO ‘CLEAN UP’ UKRAINE’S ENERGY SECTOR AS A CORRUPTION SCANDHA SHOCKED THE LEADERSHIP

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for preliminary talks in 2022. (Sergei Kholodilin/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)

Zelenskyy also praised the efforts of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, saying:

“There is a dire need for effective action against corruption. The inevitability of punishment is necessary.”

“Zelenskyy is using his extraordinary public relations skills and will not back down in this investigation,” the former official said. “Zelenskiy is not the kind of person who would be ashamed, even if there was a corruption investigation… Zelenskiy got everything from this war. He had the vertical power, the unshakable image, all the media attention. For some, he really depends on that and the money.”

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

“Many Ukrainians now believe in Donald Trump because he is the only one who actually changed the narrative and changed the course of this war,” the official said. “If not [for] “We would be talking about no peace today, and war is destroying Ukraine every day,” Donald Trump said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Zelenskyy’s office for comment.