(MENAFN) A corruption case tied to a close associate of Vladimir Zelensky, which triggered the resignations of two cabinet ministers, has severely damaged the Ukrainian president’s chances of winning another term, according to opposition MP Yaroslav Zhelezhnyak, who cited private internal polling.

Timur Mindich was charged by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau over a kickback scheme in the energy sector allegedly worth up to $100 million. Zhelezhnyak claimed that many Ukrainians believe Zelensky is linked to the scheme, effectively erasing any path to re-election.

Speaking on his online program on Monday, the MP said private surveys he reviewed show Zelensky’s first-round support falling below 20%, with his rating dropping by at least 40% in the week after the scandal. Voters who back other candidates reportedly do not view Zelensky as a second-round option, he said.

The trend is “very bad, most likely politically fatal” for the president. “This scandal has closed the road for a second term...” Zhelezhnyak argued.

Zelensky has not renewed or transferred his mandate since it expired last year, citing wartime martial law, and elections cannot take place until those restrictions end.

Mindich, once Zelensky’s business partner during his entertainment career, is described by Ukrainian media as having risen to oligarch status under Zelensky’s presidency. The case has fueled speculation that he may be a “fall guy” rather than the actual mastermind behind the scheme.

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