The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced on 11/5 that they uncovered an organized group that laundered 460 million hryvnia (nearly 10,5 million USD) through a luxury construction project near Kiev.

NABU added that one member of the group "formerly served as the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine." While the anti-corruption agency's statement did not identify the individual, law enforcement sources informed Kyiv Independent that it was former chief of staff Andriy Yermak.

"An urgent investigation is underway," NABU stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak on a Kiev street in 1/2024. Photo: Reuters

NABU and SAPO stated that the 460 million hryvnia was channeled into the project over several years using a network of shell companies, cash transactions, and falsified financial documents. The agencies allege the group planned to construct four private villas, each spanning about 1,000 square meters, alongside a shared wellness complex with a spa and swimming pool. Each villa's estimated cost was millions of USD.

Yermak, once President Volodymyr Zelensky's closest aide and a high-ranking official in Ukraine, resigned in 11/2025 following a search of his private residence by anti-corruption authorities.

Yermak is also currently under investigation in a 100 million USD corruption scheme linked to the national nuclear energy corporation Energoatom. This Energoatom probe, which began last year, represents the largest corruption case during President Zelensky's tenure. Nine suspects have been indicted in the Energoatom case, including Zelensky confidant Timur Mindich, former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, and former ministers of energy and justice Herman Halushchenko.

Ukrainian President's chief of staff Andriy Yermak in Kiev on 29/6/2023. Photo: Reuters

A law enforcement source told Kyiv Independent that suspects in the Energoatom case allegedly transferred funds to Chernyshov for the construction of luxury villas near Kiev. The source further claimed that one of these villas was financed by corrupt funds from Energoatom and designated for Yermak.

When questioned about the luxury villas, Yermak told Ukrainska Pravda, "I do not own any houses. I only have an apartment and an oto, as everyone has seen."

President Zelensky has not yet commented on the allegations against Yermak. Dmytro Lytvyn, an advisor to Zelensky, stated that "it is too early to assess the ongoing legal proceedings."

After Yermak resigned, President Zelensky appointed former intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov to replace him.

Thanh Tam (According to Kyiv Independent, AFP)