Ukraine anti - corruption agencies launch probe ahead of key defence minister vote

Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies launched a special operation against lawmakers and presidential advisers on Wednesday, hours before a key vote in parliament for a new defence minister aimed at cementing a shake-up by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The Nabu and Sapo agencies released no further details, but the probe poses a fresh headache for Zelenskiy after ousted defence chief Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell statement late on Tuesday. Lawmakers were expected to vote on Wednesday on the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara, a former top special forces operative, as Ukraine’s new defence minister after weeks of political turmoil over Fedorov’s ouster. His removal had sent thousands of