Anti-Corruption Raids Target Top Zelenskyy Aide
In a significant development, Ukrainian anti-corruption units have conducted simultaneous raids on the private residence and government offices of Andrii Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff. The events unfolded on Friday 28 November 2025, creating an unwelcome distraction for Kyiv's leadership during a critical period in the nation's defence against Russia's ongoing invasion.
Details of the Operation
Two of Ukraine's primary anti-corruption watchdogs, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), confirmed they executed searches at Yermak's office. The powerful official, who is a key participant in high-stakes talks with the United States, later verified that investigators had also entered his personal apartment.
In a statement posted on the messaging app Telegram, Yermak sought to project an image of full cooperation. "The investigators are facing no obstacles," he wrote, adding that he was working with them completely and that his legal representatives were present throughout the process.
Broader Corruption Scandal and Political Fallout
These raids are part of a major investigation into a sprawling $100 million energy sector corruption scandal that implicates several high-ranking Ukrainian officials. This development heaps further pressure onto President Zelenskyy as he undertakes two monumental tasks: securing continued military and financial support from Western allies for the war effort, and persuading international partners, particularly the US, to accommodate Ukrainian positions in potential peace proposals.
The timing is particularly delicate, as the government strives to maintain a united front against external aggression while simultaneously demonstrating its commitment to rooting out internal graft. This action against such a senior figure signals the anti-corruption agencies' continued operational independence, even during wartime.
