Ex-Chief of Staff to Zelenskyy Faces Money Laundering Charges
Andriy Yermak, former chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appeared in court on Tuesday as prosecutors sought his arrest over alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar money laundering scheme. Prosecutors claim Yermak, 54, funneled approximately 460 million Ukrainian hryvnias ($10.5m) into a high-end housing complex near Kyiv. Investigators suspect the funds may have originated from corruption at Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear energy company.
The prosecution requested the court remand Yermak in custody, with bail set at 180 million hryvnias ($4m). Yermak denied all allegations, calling the notice of suspicion unfounded. He stated he would defend his rights and reputation, noting he owns only one apartment and one car. The hearing is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
The case is part of a broader anticorruption operation called "Midas," led by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. The operation was unveiled last November when Timur Mindich, a former business associate of Zelenskyy, was accused of orchestrating a $100m kickback scheme at Energoatom. Mindich, who denies the allegations, has fled to Israel.
Prosecutors said Mindich and several senior officials, including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, are implicated in the Dynasty case. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, has been questioned as a witness. Yermak resigned as chief of staff in November after investigators raided his home. NABU chief confirmed Zelenskyy is not under investigation, as sitting presidents cannot legally be investigated.
The charges come as Ukraine remains dependent on Western financial aid, partly contingent on anticorruption reforms. Some lawmakers view the case as evidence of Ukraine's commitment to fighting corruption. Despite the corruption focus, Zelenskyy's public approval remains stable, with about 58 percent of Ukrainians trusting the president, though 54 percent believe corruption poses a greater threat to Ukraine's development than Russia's war.