A new far-reaching corruption investigation is shaking the Ukrainian power elite surrounding President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. The country’s anti-corruption authorities have now indicted former chief of staff and close advisor Andriy Yermak—often described as Zelenskyj’s right-hand man—on suspicion of extensive money laundering and serious financial crime.

The news comes at a sensitive time for Ukraine, as the war against Russia continues and Zelenskyj tries to maintain both international support and domestic trust.

According to Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency, Yermak is suspected of involvement in a criminal group that allegedly laundered the equivalent of about 10.5 million dollars through an exclusive residential area outside the capital, Kyiv. This is reported by news agency Reuters.

The authorities did not mention Yermak by name in their official statement, in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, but several Ukrainian media outlets identified him as the named individual.

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Yermak left his post abruptly at the end of last year in connection with what was described as a major reorganization within the government. This reshuffle gained momentum after a large corruption scandal began to be exposed, in which several of Zelenskyj’s closest associates were suspected of involvement.

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The changes were implemented following growing criticism of the presidential administration and accusations that too much power had been concentrated in the president’s inner circle.

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In a comment to Radio Liberty, Yermak denied owning property in the area under investigation but gave no further comment regarding the allegations.

Major Corruption Scandal

The ongoing investigation is linked to a broader probe into suspected high-level corruption within the Ukrainian state. The case became public already in November last year, when a former business partner of Zelenskyj was accused of having organized a bribery scheme worth about 100 million dollars—about one billion Swedish kronor—within Ukraine’s state atomic energy agency.

Samnytt has previously reported extensively on the corruption scandal in which Ukraine’s former energy and justice minister Herman Halushchenko is indicted, suspected of large-scale money laundering. According to the allegations, he channeled at least one billion kronor to a tax haven in the Pacific, after which the money was transferred to other accounts in Europe, while the family led a luxurious life in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Zelenskyj’s Minister Transferred Over a Billion to Tax Haven

A former deputy prime minister with close ties to the president’s circle has also been indicted as part of the same investigation.

Influential

During his tenure as chief of the presidential office, Yermak was regarded as one of the country’s most influential figures and often as the second most powerful person after President Zelenskyj himself.

Although the position was not elected, he held significant sway over Ukrainian politics and was often seen at Zelenskyj’s side at international meetings and public appearances, including with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M).

Presidential office communications advisor Dmytro Lytvyn says it is still too early to comment on the allegations against Yermak, as the legal process is still ongoing.

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