Anti-corruption officials in Ukraine have charged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, with money laundering and corruption, Politico reported late Monday.
The charges emerged from a larger corruption probe into Zelenskyy’s inner circle, which implicates other high-level officials, Politico reported. Yermak, who was once considered to be the second most powerful man in Ukraine, is allegedly tied to corruption surrounding Ukraine’s state energy company Energoatom.
“The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s office charged the former head of the president’s office of Ukraine, a member of an organized crime group, involved in laundering UAH 460 million [€8.9 million] on elite construction near Kyiv,” Politico reported, citing a National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine statement on Monday.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine did not directly cite Yermak in its statement, but Politico identified him as the former official referenced in the case.
Yermak’s home was raided by Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities on Nov. 28, 2025, Reuters reported.
‘Fled The Country’
As the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office were preparing to level anti-corruption charges, the Ukrainian parliament abruptly voted to strip the agencies of their independence, triggering “nationwide protests,” Politico reported.
As the anti-corruption probe continued to grow in size, Zelenskyy told Yermak that he had to remove him from his position “to avoid any speculations,” Politico reported.
The case also has ties to individuals close to Zelenskyy, like Ukrainian-Israeli entrepreneur and film producer Timur Mindic, Politico reported. Mindic, a co-owner of the film company Kvartal 95 Studio, was reportedly involved in an anti-corruption investigation in 2025, Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported on Nov. 10, 2025.
“Mindic fled the country at night, a few hours before the searches,” Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing anonymous sources with political information in Ukraine.
Mindic denied the allegations surrounding the ongoing corruption investigations last year, Politico reported, citing Deutsche Welle.
Yermak’s lawyer denied the allegations, calling them “groundless,” The Associated Press reported. Yermak himself denied owning luxury real estate tied to the investigation, Politico reported.
“When the investigation is over, I will give comments,” Politico reported, citing Yernak’s comments to reporters on Monday. “I have no mansions, I have only a flat and a car that you see.”
Zelenskyy’s communications adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, said it was too early to comment on the investigations, Reuters reported, citing statements Lytvyn made to reporters.
The 2025 investigations appear to have been publicized by a National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine Facebook post that depicted bricks, backpacks and duffel bags full of euros and U.S. dollars.
“Investigation is still ongoing, so it is too early to make any assessments,” Politico reported, citing a WhatsApp message from Zelenskyy’s top adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn.
National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Yermak and Mindic didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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