dailyloe.com – Ukrainian authorities have named Andriy Yermak, the former chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a suspect in a major corruption investigation. This accusation comes at a sensitive time during the ongoing war with Russia. The anti-corruption agencies announced on Monday that Yermak is suspected of being part of a criminal group that laundered about $10.5 million through an elite housing project near Kyiv.
The agencies, adhering to Ukrainian law, did not explicitly name Yermak but he was widely identified by local media. Yermak, who resigned following a wide-ranging probe last year, spoke to Radio Liberty, denying ownership of any real estate in the housing development but refrained from making further comments.
This investigation is part of a broader inquiry into high-level corruption that began last November. It was unveiled when a former business partner of Zelenskyy was accused of orchestrating a $100 million kickback scheme linked to the state atomic agency. Additionally, a former deputy prime minister, closely associated with Zelenskyy, was also charged in this investigation.
Dmytro Lytvyn, Zelenskyy’s communications adviser, remarked that it is premature to comment on the accusations against Yermak while procedural actions are still ongoing. Yermak was previously viewed as Ukraine’s second most powerful figure after Zelenskyy, having considerable influence in Ukrainian politics despite not being an elected official.
His public appearances alongside the president were frequent, and he also served as Kyiv’s chief negotiator in peace talks with Russia that were backed by the United States. Yermak’s resignation last year was part of a broader government restructuring aimed at regaining trust in the president’s office, which faced allegations of centralized power.
