Zelenskyy's former chief of staff in custody amid major corruption investigation

Published on 14/05/2026 - 10:04 GMT+2

A tribunal successful Kyiv ruled connected Thursday that a almighty erstwhile adjutant of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky beryllium detained up of a high-profile proceedings connected corruption allegations successful a probe that has roiled the country.

Former main of unit Andriy Yermak has been placed successful custody for 2 months with bail acceptable for €2.7 million. Yermak said helium volition enactment down bars arsenic helium cannot wage the sum.

"I don't person that benignant of wealth for bail. Right now, my lawyer volition beryllium moving with friends and acquaintances. I contradict immoderate accusations. I person thing to hide, and I volition record an appeal," Yermak told journalists.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) are investigating a strategy wherever up to €9 cardinal was laundered betwixt 2021-2025 done the operation of a high-end residence analyzable successful the colony of Kozyn, a affluent suburb southbound of the capital.

One of the 4 houses financed done the corruption strategy was allegedly meant for Yermak. He was named arsenic fishy connected 11 May. If convicted, helium could look up to 12 years successful jail.

Yermak and his lawyer Ihor Fomin denied immoderate wrongdoing, calling the charges "unfounded."

They said anti-corruption agencies had been subjected to "public pressure" to bring charges against Yermak.

Zelenskyy remains soundless connected the lawsuit and the allegations against Yermak, who used to beryllium the president’s astir trusted state and Ukraine’s “number two”.

NABU and SAP said Zelenskyy "has not been and is not presently progressive successful the investigation," which besides concerns Oleksiy Chernyshov, an erstwhile lawman premier curate and Timur Mindich, Zelenskyy's erstwhile concern partner.

Yermak had antecedently served arsenic Ukraine's pb negotiator successful talks with the United States and stepped down past autumn amid mounting unit linked to different the anti-corruption investigation, casting a shadiness implicit Zelenskyy's administration.