Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finds himself confronting the most challenging crisis of his leadership, as a money-laundering investigation implicates key figures within his close circle. Among those accused is an associate reportedly enjoying opulent comforts, such as a “golden toilet,” according to a former government official.

These allegations arise amidst increasing scrutiny over an inquiry that, as of Monday, points to associates allegedly involved in a scheme to embezzle approximately $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

A former official, speaking anonymously to Fox News Digital, expressed concern over the impact of these revelations on the morale of the Ukrainian people. “Ukrainians lack the motivation to continue fighting due to significant human rights violations and this newly uncovered corruption,” they remarked.

The source further criticized Zelensky, suggesting, “People within Ukraine are witnessing this corruption firsthand, and this is just a fraction of the larger corrupt system. Zelensky is implicated in these issues.”

Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s financial stability has been under the microscope. The recent accusations, involving allegations of kickbacks from initiatives designed to safeguard energy infrastructure during wartime, have sparked public outrage and eroded trust in the government.

“This money laundering appeared to have been going on since 2022 and there were a lot of people who tried to stop this,” the former official said.

“Some say Zelensky was aware of these schemes and that he had approved them,” they claimed.

“There was also suspicion that money ended up in accounts abroad that benefited Zelensky and his inner circle,” they said.

Over 15 months, a sweeping investigation dubbed “Operation Midas” by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) uncovered the schemes.

In one major Energoatom probe targeting Ukraine’s state nuclear power company and its energy contracts, businessman Tymur Mindich was named. 

Mindich co-owned the entertainment company Kvartal 95 with the president and, according to The Kyiv Independent, Mindich was alleged to be the ringleader of that network.

The Financial Times also reported that investigators found bags of cash and a gold-plated toilet in one of the bathrooms of his apartment.

“They were introduced many years ago and were running the business of 95 Kvartal, which includes film production and many other entertainment genres,” the former official claimed.

“Tymur had an apartment with golden toilets that was in the same building as Zelensky’s, and in 2021 Zelenskyy celebrated his birthday in Tymur’s apartment,” they said.

Another figure under investigation, Oleksiy Chernyshov, is a former deputy prime minister.

“He was also very close to the family, and he used to hold positions in the Zelensky government since 2019, and he has been accused of abuse of office,” the former official alleged.

“Chernyshov started building big, three or four huge houses in their most luxury place in Kyiv.”

So far, in his nightly address on Nov. 10, Zelensky said:

“Everyone who put together a corrupt scheme must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts.”

He stressed the importance of accountability in the energy sector and said that keeping Energoatom clean from graft is a priority.

Zelensky also praised the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s efforts, saying,

“Any effective actions against corruption are very needed. The inevitability of punishment is necessary.”

“Zelenskyy is using his extraordinary PR talent and will not step down in this probe,” the former official claimed.

“Zelensky is not the kind of person who feels shame even if there’s a corruption probe… Zelensky has got everything from this war. He had a vertical of power, an unbreakable image, all the attention of the media. To some, he really depends on this and money,” they added.

“Many Ukrainians believe in Donald Trump now, because he’s the only person who actually changed the narrative and changed the way this war is going,” the official said. “If not [for] Donald Trump we would not be talking about peace today at all, and every day of war is destroying Ukraine.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Zelensky’s office for comment.