A political earthquake is shaking Kyiv. Ukraine’s top anti-corruption investigators have turned their sights on one of the most powerful figures in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration—his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. It’s part of what officials are calling the country’s largest corruption probe since Zelensky took office. But here’s where it gets even more controversial: Yermak himself says he’s fully cooperating with law enforcement. Can Ukraine’s anti-graft crusade stay independent when it reaches this high up?
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) announced on November 28 that its agents were carrying out searches connected to Yermak. Investigators are looking into his possible links to the ongoing Energoatom scandal—an alleged multi-million-dollar corruption network involving Ukraine’s state nuclear power monopoly. The case already includes eight suspects, among them Ukrainian businessman Timur Mindich, known to be a close associate of the president and described by prosecutors as the mastermind behind the scheme.
In a statement posted on Telegram, Yermak confirmed the search, saying, “The NABU and SAPO are indeed conducting procedural actions at my home.” He added that his lawyers were on site and that investigators were being offered unrestricted access. “I am cooperating fully,” he assured. But that reassurance hasn’t calmed speculation.
Local media outlet Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reported that searches took place at both Yermak’s office on Bankova Street and his residential property in Kyiv. According to Ukrainska Pravda, law enforcement officials privately refer to Yermak by the codename “Ali Baba” in reference to his alleged central role in the affair. Whether that nickname suggests corruption or simply political theater remains up for debate.
Prosecutors allege that at least one luxury house built near Kyiv using funds from the Energoatom scheme was intended for Yermak himself—a claim still under verification. The President’s Office has so far declined to comment, fueling further intrigue. Notably, Zelensky has refused calls to dismiss his top aide, instead positioning Yermak as the lead negotiator in peace talks, a move that some see as either an act of loyalty or a major political gamble.
Anti-corruption prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko added a dramatic twist earlier in November, claiming that investigators identified “Ali Baba” as someone allegedly directing internal forces to target NABU detectives and prosecutors involved in the case. Daria Kaleniuk, who heads the Anti-Corruption Action Center, suggested that the timing of the search was significant. “Usually, searches happen right before formal charges are announced,” she said. “That means charges against Yermak could be coming very soon.”
Within Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, reactions have been muted. A party lawmaker told The Kyiv Independent anonymously, “There hasn’t really been much of a reaction—most people already understood what was going on.” The insider described the prevailing mood as one of uneasy silence: “Some might even be in shock. Others had hoped this would all fade away once Yermak took charge of the peace delegation. But it seems this is only the beginning.”
The bigger question now: who exactly is Andriy Yermak, and could this corruption scandal finally bring down the man seen as the architect of Zelensky’s inner circle? Some argue this investigation could mark a new chapter for Ukraine’s fight against high-level corruption—while others fear it’s proof that politics and justice remain dangerously entangled.
Do you believe Yermak’s cooperation proves his innocence, or is this just another sign that corruption reaches even the highest offices? Share your thoughts.
