Ukraine Court Orders Detention of Zelenskyy Ally Andriy Yermak Over Corruption Probe

Ukraine’s anti-corruption court has detained Andriy Yermak, a former ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over alleged money laundering. Prosecutors say the case is linked to a wider corruption probe involving state contracts. Yermak denies the accusations and plans to appeal.

Ukraine’s anti-corruption court on Thursday ordered the pretrial detention of Andriy Yermak, a longtime ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over allegations of money laundering linked to a major housing development project near Kyiv, prosecutors confirmed.
The court ruled that Yermak should remain in custody while investigations continue into the alleged financial crimes. However, judges also set bail at 140 million hryvnias, equivalent to about $3.19 million (€2.72 million), meaning he could be released temporarily if the amount is paid before a final verdict is delivered in the case.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, Yermak strongly denied all accusations against him and insisted he had done nothing illegal. He said he did not personally have access to such a large amount of money and that his legal team would attempt to gather the funds through friends and associates.
“I don’t have that kind of money, and my lawyer will now work with friends and acquaintances to raise the money for bail,” Yermak said outside the courthouse. “My legal team will file an appeal. We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth.”
Yermak, who previously served as Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and was considered one of the most influential figures in Ukraine’s government, had also acted as Kyiv’s lead negotiator in talks with the United States during critical stages of the war with Russia. He stepped down from his position in November last year after anti-corruption agencies intensified investigations into his activities.
According to prosecutors, Yermak is suspected of participating in a 460-million-hryvnia money-laundering operation connected to a residential housing project located outside the Ukrainian capital. The investigation is being led jointly by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, both of which have been tasked with tackling high-level corruption cases in the country.
Authorities say the case forms part of a wider anti-graft investigation involving several officials and business associates believed to have close links to President Zelenskyy’s administration. Investigators claim the broader scheme may involve up to $100 million in illegal kickbacks connected to state contracts.
The probe alleges that government-linked officials pressured contractors to pay as much as 15% in kickbacks in exchange for securing lucrative construction deals with Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company. Prosecutors believe the payments were disguised through complex financial transactions and shell companies to conceal their origins.
Despite the expanding investigation, officials have stressed that President Zelenskyy himself has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers raided Yermak’s home in November 2025, seizing documents and electronic devices believed to be connected to the alleged scheme. Shortly after the raid, Yermak resigned from his government role during what officials described as a broad restructuring effort intended to restore public confidence in the president’s office and demonstrate a commitment to fighting corruption.
Yermak has been one of Zelenskyy’s closest political allies for years, with their relationship dating back to the president’s former career in television and comedy. He played a central role in helping Zelenskyy build his outsider political campaign during the 2019 presidential election that brought the former entertainer to power.
Over the years, Yermak became one of the most powerful figures in Kyiv, overseeing sensitive diplomatic efforts and helping shape Ukraine’s wartime strategy. He later led Ukraine’s delegation during difficult US-backed peace negotiations and worked on possible ceasefire proposals aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
The case has drawn widespread attention both inside Ukraine and internationally, as the country continues efforts to convince Western allies that it is serious about combating corruption while receiving billions of dollars in military and financial support during the ongoing war.