Ukraine Declares 'War on Corruption'... Zelensky Supporters Also Arrested

Kolomoisky Arrested... "Embezzled Money Overseas from 2013 to 2020"

Ukraine has arrested financial tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky, known as a patron of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on charges of fraud and money laundering. Kolomoisky is also famous for paving the way for Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential campaign.

Ukrainian tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky surrounded by criminal investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU released this photo on the 2nd (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated in a Telegram post on the 2nd (local time), "Ihor Kolomoisky was found to have illegally transferred over 500 million hryvnias (approximately 18.5 billion KRW) overseas between 2013 and 2020 and laundered the money using controlled banks."

The SBU previously released a photo showing Kolomoisky surrounded by investigators at his home, signing documents at his doorstep.

Kolomoisky is one of Ukraine's wealthiest individuals. He owns PrivatBank, Ukraine's largest private bank nationalized in 2016, and operates businesses in various sectors including media, oil, and finance.

He also runs Ukraine's most influential TV channel, '1+1,' where actor and comedian-turned-president Zelensky rose to national stardom through a drama aired on the channel.

The United States sanctioned him in 2021, citing involvement in "serious corruption." The U.S. also alleged that Kolomoisky laundered stolen funds, but he denied the charges.

Although Kolomoisky is known as a close associate and patron of President Zelensky, Zelensky, who campaigns on anti-corruption and anti-oligarch platforms, has denied this and distanced himself.

In a speech that night, President Zelensky said, "Those who plunder Ukraine and place themselves above the law will not be able to conduct business as usual," adding, "Ukraine will become a country with new rules."

While he did not specifically mention Kolomoisky, the remarks are interpreted as referring to his arrest.

On the 11th of last month, Zelensky announced the dismissal of all heads of the national military recruitment offices after audits revealed abuses of power such as illicit enrichment and facilitating the escape of conscription candidates abroad.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is smiling while boarding an F-16 fighter jet at Skrydstrup Air Base in Vojens, Denmark, on the 20th of last month.
[Photo by AFP / Yonhap News]

Since gaining independence from Russia in 1991, Ukraine has been consistently evaluated as having severe corruption in the public and political sectors.

According to U.S. media outlets such as Politico, President Zelensky is pushing for legal reforms to treat wartime corruption on par with treason.

This is based on the importance of reducing corruption for Ukraine, which is at war due to the Russian invasion, to gain Western trust and achieve its goal of joining the European Union (EU).

Earlier this year, more than a dozen politicians, including the deputy chief of the presidential office, deputy defense minister, prosecutor general, and Kyiv governor, who were suspected of corruption, were replaced en masse.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.