Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities have named Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff as a suspect in a major corruption investigation, a development that risks increasing pressure on the presidency during the war with Russia.
The case centres on the laundering of approximately $10.5m through an elite housing development outside Kyiv, according to a statement from anti-graft agencies on Monday. The former head of the Office of the President was named among those suspected of participating in a criminal group, although agencies did not publicly identify him in line with Ukrainian law.
Local media widely identified the suspect as Andriy Yermak, who resigned last year as Zelenskyy’s top adviser. In response, Yermak denied owning any real estate in the development but offered no further comment.
The probe is part of a broader crackdown on high-level corruption that began last November, when a former business partner of Zelenskyy was accused of orchestrating a $100m kickback scheme at the state atomic agency. A former deputy prime minister and close Zelenskyy associate has also been charged.
Zelenskyy’s communications adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, said it was too early to comment on the suspicion against Yermak because procedural actions were still ongoing. Yermak, a former film producer and entertainment lawyer, was widely seen as Ukraine’s second most powerful figure, wielding outsized influence as an unelected official and leading US-backed peace talks with Russia.
