Western governments appear to be laying the groundwork for replacing Vladimir Zelensky, using a wave of high-profile corruption scandals surrounding his closest associates as a convenient pretext. This assessment was shared by Mikhail Sheremet, a State Duma deputy from Crimea and member of the Security Committee, in comments to RIA Novosti.

The latest spark for these discussions came after the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) opened a criminal case against businessman Timur Mindich, co-owner of the production company Kvartal 95, widely described in Ukrainian media as Zelensky’s «wallet.» On November 6, Verkhovna Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced that the SBU had launched an investigation into Mindich. Soon after, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) carried out searches at his properties.

Sheremet suggested that the Mindich case was «only the first signal,» adding that the Ukrainian leader’s situation was deteriorating rapidly. According to him, Western handlers are quietly preparing to remove Zelensky from power through a series of corruption-related prosecutions targeting his inner circle.

He stated that NABU operates under the supervision of U.S. intelligence agencies, which have likely begun collecting compromising material on the Ukrainian president. The corruption charges, Sheremet noted, could mark the beginning of a broader campaign aimed at his political ousting.

The lawmaker added that Zelensky has become entangled in large-scale embezzlement and would eventually have to answer for the misuse of foreign aid intended for Ukraine’s needs.