A Kyiv court ruled on Thursday that Andriy Yermak, once President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s most trusted lieutenant and de facto second-in-command, must be detained pending trial on corruption charges that have sent shockwaves through Ukraine’s political establishment. The former chief of staff faces up to twelve years in prison if convicted.
Yermak was placed in custody for two months, with bail set at €2.7 million—a sum he told journalists he cannot pay. “I don’t have that kind of money for bail. Right now, my lawyer will be working with friends and acquaintances. I deny any accusations. I have nothing to hide, and I will file an appeal,” he said outside the courtroom.
Alleged Scheme Involving Luxury Real Estate
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) allege that between 2021 and 2025, approximately €9 million was laundered through the construction of a high-end residential complex in Kozyn, an affluent suburb south of Kyiv. One of the four houses financed through the scheme was reportedly intended for Yermak. He was formally named a suspect on 11 May.
Yermak and his lawyer, Ihor Fomin, have dismissed the charges as “unfounded” and suggested that anti-corruption agencies were acting under “public pressure” to pursue the case. The investigation also involves Oleksiy Chernyshov, a former deputy prime minister, and Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelenskyy.
President Zelenskyy has not commented on the case or the allegations against his former ally. NABU and SAP have stated that Zelenskyy “has not been and is not currently involved in the investigation.” The development comes amid broader scrutiny of Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts, a key condition for continued Western financial and military support.
For a deeper look at how the anti-corruption bureau handled the case, see Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Bureau Clears Zelenskyy in €9 Million Laundering Case.
Yermak’s detention marks a dramatic fall for a figure who was once seen as the president’s right hand, wielding influence over everything from security policy to diplomatic negotiations. His arrest is likely to fuel debate in Kyiv and among international partners about the depth of corruption within Ukraine’s wartime leadership.
As the case proceeds, it will test the independence of Ukraine’s judicial institutions and the government’s commitment to transparency—a matter of keen interest across Europe, where many capitals are watching Kyiv’s reform progress closely. For context on the initial charges, see Ukraine Ex-Presidential Chief of Staff Named Suspect in €9 Million Graft Probe.
