Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities have conducted searches at the residence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as part of a widening investigation into a major nuclear energy corruption scheme.
The Investigation Intensifies
Approximately ten investigators from Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) were filmed entering the government quarter in Kyiv earlier this month. Both NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) confirmed they were conducting investigative actions targeting the head of the president's office.
Andriy Yermak, who serves as Zelenskyy's lead negotiator in peace talks and is considered the second most powerful figure in Ukraine, confirmed the searches in a social media statement. "The investigators have no obstacles," Yermak stated. "They were given full access to the apartment, my lawyers are on site, interacting with law enforcement officers. From my side, I have full cooperation."
The Nuclear Energy Kickback Scheme
The scandal first emerged in November when anti-corruption officials uncovered an elaborate scheme where insiders allegedly received kickbacks of 10-15% from commercial partners of Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power generator and most important energy supplier.
Investigators identified Timur Mindich, a former business partner of President Zelenskyy from their Kvartal 95 TV production company days, as the alleged organiser. Mindich reportedly fled the country hours before authorities arrived to arrest him at his Kyiv apartment in the government district.
The evidence against suspects includes more than 1,000 hours of secretly recorded conversations obtained by NABU. In one particularly damaging recording released to media, a suspect reportedly expressed that it was a "pity" to build structures defending power stations from Russian attacks since the money could be stolen instead.
Political Fallout and Public Outrage
President Zelenskyy has publicly denounced the corruption scheme, and two ministers implicated in the scandal were fired earlier this month. However, the investigation has raised serious questions about how much senior government figures knew about the activities given the number of officials allegedly involved.
The timing has proven particularly damaging for the Ukrainian government, coming when most citizens endure daily electricity blackouts caused by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The revelations have sparked widespread public outrage at a time when national unity is crucial.
The scandal had briefly disappeared from headlines when Donald Trump unexpectedly released a pro-Russian peace plan, but Friday's developments thrust the corruption investigation back into the spotlight. This occurs as Ukraine had been carefully advancing a 19-point counterproposal in Geneva talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, negotiations fronted by Yermak himself.
NABU has indicated it will provide further details about the investigation and the searches at Yermak's residence in due course.
