Zelenskyy dismisses senior presidential official amid corruption investigation

In Ukraine, on 19 August 2026, President Zelenskyy fired a senior presidential aide, the deputy head of the presidential office, after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies revealed a corruption probe. Raids were carried out over corruption suspicions, and the aide was linked to the graft probe. The Financial Times wrote that the allegations were piling up, and Sky News called it Zelenskyy’s ‘toughest day since invasion’.

A new security cabinet took office. Khmara was appointed defence minister with 312 MPs voting in favour, amid a dispute over his legal military status, and his predecessor called for elections.