Corruption in Ukraine

Authorities raid Zelenskyy's chief of staff

Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities have raided Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, reports Ukrainska Pravda.

The newspaper has photos showing about a dozen officials from the anti-corruption agencies Nabu and Sapo at Yermak's office. A search was also conducted at his home.

In a statement, Yermak said he was cooperating with investigators.

According to the Kyiv Independent, the raid is part of the investigation into the large corruption scandal surrounding the country's state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom. The scandal has already brought down two ministers and investigators have previously said that more will be suspects.

Zelenskyy's close friend Timur Mindich has been identified as the spider in the web in the corruption scandal.

Zelenskyy's chief of staff resigns after corruption scandal

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, is resigning after being implicated in the Ukrainian corruption scandal, the president said, according to Reuters.

Zelenskyy made the announcement in a video on Telegram, adding:

- Russia really wants us to make mistakes. We will not do that.

On Thursday, the anti-corruption agency Nabu raided Yermak's residence, which the chief of staff himself - widely seen as Ukraine's second most powerful man - confirmed. He added that he is cooperating with investigators.

The corruption scandal concerns a scheme, led by Zelenskyy's friend and former business partner Timur Mindich, in which the equivalent of one billion kronor is believed to have been embezzled in the energy sector.

It is not clear who will replace Yermak.

Analysis: Zelenskyy gets rid of his right-hand man

After the raid on the chief of staff Andriy Yermak, there was an expectation that Zelenskyy would act, says Sky News Deborah Haynes in an analysis.

Yermak is widely seen as Ukraine's second most powerful man and has been Zelenskyy's right-hand man throughout the war - even if he has not been formally charged, it looks bad enough with anti-corruption investigators in his home, Haynes continues.

His resignation is being applauded by anti-corruption activists, she adds.

- It will convince some that Zelenskyy is acting independently. Now he will have to do it without a key figure who has been by his side since the start

Andriy Yermak's political importance cannot be overestimated, writes Shaun Walker in The Guardian.

“He has a range of roles for Zelensky: trusted sounding board, domestic policy implementer, gatekeeper for access to the president, main contact for foreign politicians and lead peace negotiator.”

Such influence creates enemies – few in the Ukrainian elite have a positive view of Yermak, although many admire his work ethic and political acumen, Walker continues. 

The corruption scandal – it’s about the matter

• A comprehensive corruption investigation in Ukraine’s energy sector revealed bribes worth the equivalent of one billion kronor and led to raids on, among others, Energoatom.
• Seven people were indicted, including President Zelensky’s friend Timur Mindich, who is identified as the ringleader and has fled the country, and former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshev.
• Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk were dismissed after appearing in the investigation, and the board of Energoatom was fired.
• President Zelenskyy announced that state-owned energy companies will be restructured and audited, and that a new supervisory body will be appointed for Energoatom.
• The investigation has also led to an audit of Ukraine’s defense industry, as links to defense were discovered and the main suspects were placed on the country’s most wanted list.