Zelenskyy’s Former Chief of Staff Named Suspect in Ukrainian Money-Laundering Probe
Andrii Yermak, former Ukrainian presidential chief of staff, has been named as a suspect in a major corruption investigation by NABU and SAPO. The probe alleges an organized group laundered around €9 million through a luxury property development near Kyiv. This investigation presents a significant political challenge for President Zelenskyy's administration.
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have formally identified former presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak as a suspect in an ongoing investigation into an alleged money-laundering scheme involving a luxury real estate development near Kyiv, officials said.
Investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said they uncovered what they described as an organised group suspected of laundering approximately 460 million hryvnias (€9 million) through a high-end property project outside the Ukrainian capital.
Authorities said one suspect is a former head of the presidential office, later identified by local media as Andriy Yermak. Six other individuals have also been notified of suspicion as part of the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Under Ukrainian law, a notice of suspicion represents the formal commencement of criminal proceedings and does not constitute a conviction. Details released through Ukraine’s anti-corruption enforcement framework indicate investigators are continuing to gather evidence and examine financial transactions linked to the development.
Yermak, a longtime ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a prominent figure in wartime diplomacy, has denied wrongdoing and said he intends to challenge the allegations through legal channels.
The investigation centres on claims that funds were routed through a network of companies connected to a luxury residential complex planned near Kyiv. The proposed project reportedly included several large private residences and shared recreational facilities. Information published through Ukraine’s public anti-corruption case registry indicates the matter remains under active investigation.
The case has emerged as one of the most politically sensitive corruption probes since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and comes as Kyiv continues reforms linked to its European Union accession process. While President Zelenskyy has not been implicated in the investigation, the proceedings have intensified scrutiny of senior figures connected to his administration.