Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies allege high-level officials involved in corporate raiding scheme
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies say they have uncovered an organized corporate raiding scheme allegedly involving a sitting and former lawmaker, officials from the President’s Office and Justice Ministry, judges and hackers.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced details of the investigation, dubbed Operation Themis, on Aug. 20.
According to investigators, members of the alleged organization used forged documents and court decisions to transfer ownership of businesses to people they controlled. Hackers were allegedly recruited to gain access to state registries.
NABU said the group seized a company worth more than 248 million hryvnias ($5.5 million) in the fall of 2025 and attempted to take control of assets worth more than 207 million hryvnias ($5 million) in May 2026.
Investigators also allege that the group sought control of a property in central Kyiv worth more than 500 million hryvnias ($11.2 million).
According to NABU, the operation was financed by a sitting Ukrainian lawmaker who allegedly provided at least $514,000. Investigators say the money was used to pay hackers, cover litigation costs and bribe law enforcement officials and judges.
The investigation comes amid a broader series of high-level corruption probes involving Ukrainian officials.
One official implicated in the investigation is former Deputy Head of the President’s Office Iryna Mudra. She has confirmed that investigators searched her property and served her with a notice of suspicion.
Mudra, who has since left her post, said she would defend her reputation and denied wrongdoing.