Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have formally notified Andrii Yermak, the former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, that he is a suspect in a major corruption investigation. The case, which has been under scrutiny since 2018, centres on an alleged scheme to launder approximately €9 million (460 million hryvnias) between 2021 and 2025 through a luxury property development project on the outskirts of Kyiv.
In a joint statement, the two agencies said investigators had uncovered an organised group that used a network of shell companies, cash transactions, and fictitious financial documents to funnel money. The group is suspected of planning to construct four private mansions, each roughly 1,000 square metres, along with a shared wellness complex featuring a spa and swimming pool. The estimated cost of each residence runs into millions of dollars.
“One of its members — the former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine — has been notified of suspicion,” the statement read, without naming Yermak directly, in line with Ukrainian legal practice. However, Ukrainian media widely reported that he was the individual referred to. Six other individuals were also notified as suspects on Tuesday, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Yermak declined to comment in detail, saying he would wait until the investigation had concluded. Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said it was “too early to assess the ongoing procedural actions”.
A Shadow Over Zelenskyy’s Administration
Yermak, a close ally of Zelenskyy, served as Ukraine’s lead negotiator in talks with the United States before resigning in November. His departure came amid mounting pressure linked to this anti-corruption probe — one of the most significant political challenges faced by Zelenskyy’s administration since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While Zelenskyy himself has not been implicated, the investigation has cast a shadow over his government, drawing in several influential figures linked to the president.
The case is part of a broader crackdown on high-level graft. Last November, a former business partner of Zelenskyy was accused of running a $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic agency. The current probe, which dates back to 2018, is seen as a test of Ukraine’s commitment to anti-corruption reforms, a key condition for continued Western support, including from the European Union.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts have been closely watched in Brussels and other European capitals. The country’s progress in tackling graft is central to its EU accession negotiations, which formally opened in 2024. The investigation into Yermak, a figure once at the heart of presidential power, underscores the challenges Kyiv faces in balancing wartime unity with the rule of law.
For now, the move stops short of formal charges against Yermak. But the probe has already sent ripples through Ukraine’s political landscape, raising questions about the extent of corruption within the highest echelons of power. As NABU and SAPO continue their work, the outcome will be closely monitored not only in Kyiv but across Europe, where Ukraine’s fight against graft is seen as a bellwether for its democratic resilience.
