Ukrainian anti-corruption units raid Zelenskyy’s home and offices

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Anti-corruption units raided the home and office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, in an unwanted distraction for officials in kyiv as they struggle to defeat the Russian invasion and persuade U.S. officials to include their concerns in peace proposals.

Two national agencies fighting entrenched corruption in Ukraine said they searched Yermak’s office. Yermak, a powerful figure in Ukraine and a key participant in talks with the United States, confirmed that his apartment was also searched.

“Investigators face no obstacles,” Yermak wrote on the Telegram messaging app. He added that he was cooperating fully with them and that his lawyers were present.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office are anti-corruption monitoring bodies of Ukraine. They are behind a major investigation into a $100 million energy sector corruption scandal involving top Ukrainian officials.

Two of Yermak’s former deputies, Oleh Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma, left the government in 2024 after watchdogs investigated them for financial irregularities. A third deputy, Andrii Smyrnov, was investigated for bribery and other crimes, but still works for Yermak.

AP Photo/José Luis Magaña

The scandal has created more problems for Zelenskyy as he seeks continued support from Western countries for Ukraine’s war effort and tries to ensure continued foreign funding. The European Union, which Ukraine wants to join, has told Zelenskyy he must crack down on corruption.

Zelenskyy faced an unprecedented rebellion from his own lawmakers earlier this month after researchers released details of their investigation into the energy sector.

Although Yermak was not charged with any crime, several senior lawmakers in Zelenskyy’s party said Yermak should take responsibility for the debacle to restore public trust. Some said that if Zelenskyy did not remove him, the party could split, threatening the president’s parliamentary majority. But Zelenskyy defied them.

Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to unite and “stop political games” in light of pressure from the United States to reach a deal with Russia.

Yermak met Zelenskyy more than 15 years ago when he was a lawyer venturing into the television production business, and Zelenskyy was a famous Ukrainian comedian and actor.

He oversaw foreign affairs as part of Zelenskyy’s first presidential team and was promoted to chief of staff in February 2020.

Yermak has accompanied Zelenskyy on all his foreign trips since the Russian invasion in February 2022, and the president’s trust in him has made Yermak’s power seem almost untouchable.

Domestically, officials describe Yermak as Zelenskyy’s guardian, and he is widely believed to have hand-picked all top government-appointed officials, including prime ministers and ministers.

Individuals connected to Yermak and the president’s office have been investigated before.

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