Two national anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine have named Andriy Yermak, the former chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as an official suspect in a major graft investigation. Yermak is suspected of participating in a criminal group involved in a 460-million-hryvnia money-laundering scheme, estimated at approximately $10.5 million, linked to luxury real estate construction projects near Kyiv.
Widely regarded as Ukraine's second most powerful person and a trusted confidant of the president, Yermak previously served as the lead negotiator in talks with the United States. He resigned in November amid a broader probe into high-level graft that shook the country's political class. Investigators searched his home in November, though a decision on whether to bring formal charges could still take months.
During a court appearance for a bail hearing, Yermak denied the corruption allegations, calling the case unfounded and denying ownership in the housing project. While President Zelenskyy has not commented publicly, his press officer, Dmytro Lytvyn, stated that the investigation is ongoing and it is too early to draw conclusions. The head of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau clarified that the president has neither been nor is currently a subject of the investigation.
The investigation deals a blow to Ukraine's leadership during the ongoing war with Russia. It also complicates President Zelenskyy’s efforts to secure membership in the European Union, as endemic corruption remains a primary obstacle slowing the admission process.