NABU and SAPO conduct large-scale special operation: among the possible suspects are Mudra, Stolar and Mykytas

On August 19, NABU and SAPO announced a special operation to expose a criminal organization that, according to anti-corruption agencies, operated under the leadership of a current and former MP with the participation of high-ranking officials of the President’s Office. The names of the alleged suspects have already appeared in the media, but the full list of individuals and their procedural status have not yet been officially made public.

NABU and SAPO announced a special operation

On the morning of August 19, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau reported on large-scale investigative actions.

According to official information from NABU, this involves exposing a criminal organization that allegedly operated under the leadership of a current and former MP of Ukraine. According to law enforcement officials, high-ranking officials of the President’s Office and other individuals may have been involved in its activities.

The anti-corruption agencies promised to provide a detailed description of the alleged scheme, the amount of possible losses, and the procedural status of the suspects later.

Who may be involved in the case

After the NABU report, the first names began to appear in the public space.

MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said that among the possible suspects is a current parliamentarian from the former OPZZH, known in the construction business. According to RBC-Ukraine, this is MP Vadym Stolar.

MP Oleksiy Honcharenko, in turn, reported that searches were conducted at the home of the deputy head of the President’s Office Iryna Mudra.

According to RBC-Ukraine sources, the case also involves former MP and ex-head of the Ukrbud corporation Maksym Mykytas.

At the same time, it is important that at the time of the first reports, NABU and SAPO did not officially name these individuals as suspects and did not notify them of the announcement of suspicions.

The operation was called “Forest Gump”

The special operation of the anti-corruption authorities was called “Forest Gump”.

NABU also published a short fragment of the recordings of intercepted conversations of individuals whom the investigation may link to the case.

The recording shows that the interlocutors discuss money and mention the Office of the President. At the same time, the identities of the participants in the conversation and the context of individual remarks should be established within the framework of the investigation.

An anti-crisis communications plan was found during the searches

Another detail of the special operation was a document that NABU and SAPO, according to their information, discovered during the searches.

It describes the anti-crisis communications plan surrounding the activities of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada.

The document, in particular, provided for communication activities involving Telegram channels, Ukrainian and foreign media, politicians and experts.

Among the tasks specified in the plan are minimizing reputational risks for the Office of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers, promoting prepared messages and forming a positive image of the work of the Temporary Investigative Commission.

It was also about communicating with international partners and creating the impression of broad political support and objectivity of the process.

What is known about Iryna Mudra

Iryna Mudra has been the Deputy Head of the Office of the President since March 2024. Previously, she worked as the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine.

In the Office of the President, Mudra deals, in particular, with issues of legal policy and international litigation.

Before working in state bodies, she spent a significant part of her professional career in the banking sector.

Who is Vadym Stolar

Vadym Stolar is a current People’s Deputy and businessman who has been associated with the construction industry for many years.

In 2019, he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada from the Opposition Platform – For Life. After the cessation of the activities of the OPZH parliamentary faction, he joined the deputy group “Revival of Ukraine”.

In 2023, the SBU conducted searches at Stolar’s residence as part of an investigation into possible money laundering of persons under sanctions.

What is known about Maksym Mykytas

Maksym Mykytas is a businessman and former MP. Before entering politics, he worked in the construction industry and headed the Ukrbud corporation.

In the Verkhovna Rada, Mykytas represented a majority district in the Chernihiv region.

His name had previously appeared in criminal proceedings and investigations by anti-corruption agencies.

What’s next

The NABU and SAPO have not yet disclosed all the details of the special operation “Forrest Gump”. It is expected that the anti-corruption agencies will separately report on the essence of the alleged scheme, the role of its participants, the investigative actions carried out and possible suspicions.

Until official information appears, the persons mentioned in the media cannot be considered guilty of committing a crime, and their specific procedural status must be confirmed by law enforcement agencies.