{"id":1395342,"date":"2026-05-20T14:03:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/?p=1395342"},"modified":"2026-05-20T14:03:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:03:18","slug":"seven-years-of-presidency-what-scandals-have-happened-around-zelenskyy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/seven-years-of-presidency-what-scandals-have-happened-around-zelenskyy\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven years of presidency: what scandals have happened around Zelenskyy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"138\"><strong>Today, May 20, marks seven years since Volodymyr Zelenskyy was sworn in and became the President of Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"140\" data-end=\"220\">Due to the war, his presidency was extended until the end of martial law.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"222\" data-end=\"384\">During these seven years, there have been many high-profile scandals that have been remembered by society. Not every one of them involved Zelensky personally &#8211; it often involved his entourage.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"386\" data-end=\"727\">Zelensky\u2019s presidency began with an international scandal. On July 25, 2019, two months after his inauguration, a phone call between Zelensky and then-US President <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Donald Trump<\/span><\/span> took place. What was supposed to be a routine diplomatic conversation turned into one of the most high-profile political stories in the United States.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"386\" data-end=\"727\">\t\t<aside class=\"shortcode-also\" data-title=\"Read also\" >\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/spiders-in-a-jar-why-did-the-authorities-put-on-a-show-with-a-bail-for-yermak\/\">\u201cSpiders in a Jar\u201d: Why Did the Authorities Put on a Show with a Bail for Yermak?<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"729\" data-end=\"970\">According to the released transcript, Trump asked Zelensky to initiate an investigation into <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Joe Biden<\/span><\/span> and his son Hunter Biden, who served on the board of directors of <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Burisma<\/span><\/span> .<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"972\" data-end=\"1122\">This story was the basis for Trump&#8217;s impeachment proceedings. At the same time, Zelensky denied that he felt pressure from the American president.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1124\" data-end=\"1440\">In 2020, a scandal erupted around the head of the Presidential Office <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">, Andriy Yermak<\/span><\/span> . In the spring, People&#8217;s Deputy <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Geo Leros<\/span><\/span> released the so-called &#8220;Yermak tapes.&#8221; In the video, a person resembling the brother of the head of the Office, Denis Yermak, was discussing possible personnel appointments for money.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1442\" data-end=\"1635\">The essence of the accusations was the possible trading of public positions through the environment of the head of the OP. Yermak rejected all the accusations, calling the recordings &#8220;scrap&#8221; and an information attack against him.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1902\">In 2021, a high-profile scandal arose around the special operation &#8220;Wagnergate.&#8221; It was about an attempt to detain militants of the Russian PMC <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Wagner<\/span><\/span> , who participated in the war in Donbas and were involved in the shooting down of Malaysian Boeing MH17 in 2014.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1904\" data-end=\"2056\">The plan was to lure the &#8220;Wagnerists&#8221; to Belarus and then smuggle them into Ukraine. However, the operation was postponed, after which it failed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2058\" data-end=\"2257\">Former GUR head <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Vasyl Burba<\/span><\/span> and investigative journalists claimed that Andriy Yermak was responsible for the failure. Zelenskyy responded by calling Burba an &#8220;adventurer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2259\" data-end=\"2442\">In early 2022, when Western intelligence agencies warned of a possible full-scale Russian invasion, Zelensky urged Ukrainians not to panic and assured that the situation was under control.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2444\" data-end=\"2664\">His words about &#8220;shish kebabs in May&#8221; after the outbreak of the Great War have become the subject of widespread criticism. Opponents of the government believe that the country&#8217;s leadership either underestimated the threat or did not want to provoke panic among the population.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2666\" data-end=\"2867\">In January 2023, a scandal erupted around the Ministry of Defense, which was then headed by <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Alexei Reznikov<\/span><\/span> . Journalists reported on the purchase of products for the army at inflated prices.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2869\" data-end=\"3060\">The scandal was symbolized by eggs, which the Ministry of Defense purchased for 17 hryvnias per piece at a much lower market price. Against the backdrop of massive military recruitment, this caused serious public outrage.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3062\" data-end=\"3148\">After the scandal, Reznikov left his post, and Zelensky promised &#8220;fair decisions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3150\" data-end=\"3288\">In 2024, the conflict between Zelensky and the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">, Valeriy Zaluzhny<\/span><\/span> , caused a wide resonance.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3290\" data-end=\"3441\">After the publication of Zaluzhny&#8217;s article about the course of the war, reports emerged of serious disagreements between the military leadership and the Office of the President.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3443\" data-end=\"3628\">On February 8, Zelensky signed a decree dismissing Zaluzhny and appointing <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Oleksandr Syrsky<\/span><\/span> in his place. Zaluzhny later became Ukraine&#8217;s ambassador to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3630\" data-end=\"3739\">In the fall of 2025, Ukraine was rocked by a large-scale corruption scandal, which the media dubbed &#8220;Mindichgate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3741\" data-end=\"4001\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">NABU<\/span><\/span> and <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">SAPO<\/span><\/span> announced the exposure of a criminal organization connected to schemes in the energy sector. One of the key figures was businessman <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Timur Mindich<\/span><\/span> .<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4003\" data-end=\"4202\">According to the investigation, significant funds were withdrawn from state-owned energy companies through corruption schemes. Against the backdrop of the scandal, Andriy Yermak resigned, and the situation seriously damaged the government&#8217;s reputation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4204\" data-end=\"4349\">In the spring of 2026, a new scandal arose around Yermak. NABU and SAPO reported him to the authorities on suspicion of legalizing property obtained through criminal means.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4351\" data-end=\"4588\">The case involved possible involvement in the construction of an elite residence in the &#8220;Dynasty&#8221; cooperative near Kyiv. According to the investigation, before the war, Yermak could have financed the construction with funds of illegal origin and personally controlled the work process.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4590\" data-end=\"4807\">Additional resonance was caused by reports that one of the houses was allegedly being built for a person referred to in the investigation materials as &#8220;R1&#8221;, &#8220;boss&#8221; or &#8220;Vova&#8221;. This gave rise to speculation about a possible connection to the president.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4809\" data-end=\"4873\">However, NABU emphasized that the head of state does not appear in the case.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4875\" data-end=\"5030\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">It is worth noting that all these scandals have become an important part of the political history of Zelensky&#8217;s presidency and have significantly influenced the public perception of the government.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4875\" data-end=\"5030\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Previously, <a href=\"https:\/\/prm.ua\/140-milyoniv-za-kilka-dniv-zvidky-naspravdi-vzialy-hroshi-na-zastavu-yermaku\/\">&#8220;Pryamiy&#8221; reported that the speed of collecting 140 million hryvnias in bail<\/a> for the former head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, suspected of corruption, caused significant public outcry and questions about the origin of this money.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4875\" data-end=\"5030\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">We also <a href=\"https:\/\/prm.ua\/ne-sto-druziv-a-140-milyoniv-khto-vnis-zastavu-za-yermaka\/\">recall that the former head of the President&#8217;s Office, Andriy Yermak, was released from pre-trial detention on May 18, 2026.<\/a> A bail of 140 million hryvnias was posted for him &#8211; 4 days after the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court chose for him a preventive measure in the form of detention with the alternative of bail in the money laundering case.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4875\" data-end=\"5030\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Also follow <strong>\u201cPryamim\u201d<\/strong> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pryamiy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Facebook<\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/prm_ua\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">X<\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/+rtV4dxYu2_cyNjVi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Telegram<\/a> , and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/pryamiy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, May 20, marks seven years since Volodymyr Zelenskyy was sworn in and became the President of Ukraine. Due to the war, his presidency was extended until the end of martial law. During these seven years, there have been many high-profile scandals that have been remembered by society. Not every one of them involved Zelensky [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":1395335,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76871,76872,76875,76878],"class_list":["post-1395342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2","category-news-feed","category-other-news","category-society"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1395342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1395342"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1395342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1395343,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1395342\/revisions\/1395343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1395335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1395342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prm.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1395342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}