Top Zelensky Aide Targeted in Major Anti-Corruption Raid
Ukrainian anti-graft investigators have conducted simultaneous raids on the home and offices of President Volodymyr Zelensky's powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. The dramatic move by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) represents the latest corruption embarrassment for the Ukrainian leadership as the country continues to defend itself against Russian aggression.
In an official statement, NABU confirmed that investigative actions, including searches, were being carried out at the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The operations were conducted with proper legal authorisation as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Yermak, who has stood beside Zelensky since his 2019 inauguration and is considered Ukraine's second-most powerful official, has stated he is fully cooperating with investigators.
The £75 Million Energy Corruption Scheme
The raids are connected to a massive energy corruption scandal that has seen Ukrainian MPs and watchdog organisations demand Yermak's dismissal. According to anti-corruption authorities, a group including government officials allegedly collected bribes from the state nuclear power company, Energoatom.
Investigators claim the officials received between 10-15% of the value of each contract awarded, illegally funnelling approximately £75 million that could have been used for Ukraine's defence against Russian attacks. The scale of the alleged corruption has caused significant political damage to Zelensky's administration as it maintains international support for its war effort.
Yermak's political opponents have attempted to connect him directly to the scandal, suggesting he or one of his subordinates is the mysterious figure referred to as 'Ali Baba' in wiretapped conversations related to the investigation. The 54-year-old chief of staff has vehemently denied any involvement, telling German publication Welt last week: "People mention me, and sometimes, absolutely without any evidence, they try to accuse me of things I don't even know about."
Broader Implications and International Context
The alleged mastermind behind the corruption scheme is identified as businessman Timur Mindich, described as a long-time contact of President Zelensky. Mindich is said to have been one of Zelensky's closest associates even before his unexpected political rise in 2019. Despite their previous relationship, Zelensky has imposed sanctions against Mindich, who has since fled Ukraine.
This corruption scandal emerges as Ukraine navigates delicate international negotiations. The country is reportedly close to agreeing a US-brokered peace deal while simultaneously facing obstacles in European Union financial support plans. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has warned that the EU's proposal to use frozen Russian state assets to fund Ukraine could potentially endanger peace negotiations.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, De Wever stated that "hastily moving forward on the proposed reparations loan scheme would have, as a collateral damage, that we as EU are effectively preventing reaching an eventual peace deal." The European Commission aims to address Belgium's concerns in a draft legal proposal regarding the use of frozen Russian sovereign assets to support Kyiv in 2026 and 2027.
The ongoing investigation into Yermak and the energy sector corruption represents a significant test for Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions and the Zelensky administration's commitment to transparency during wartime.
