Zelensky’s ex-chief of staff named as suspect in major corruption probe
Ukrainian authorities yesterday named Volodymyr Zelensky’s powerful former chief of staff as a suspect in a major corruption probe, a move likely to pile pressure on the president’s office at a sensitive moment in the war with Russia.
Kyiv’s political class was rocked by a wide-ranging investigation last year that had fueled public anger and prompted the ex-top adviser and Zelensky’s right-hand man, Andriy Yermak, to resign.
In a statement, Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies said Yermak is suspected of participating in a criminal group that laundered around $10.5 million through an elite housing development outside the capital Kyiv.
The agencies did not name Yermak, in line with Ukrainian law, but he was widely identified by local media. Speaking to Ukrainian outlet Radio Liberty, he denied owning real estate in the development but did not comment further.
The case is part of a broader probe into high-level graft first unveiled last November, when a former Zelensky business partner was accused of running a $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic agency.
Arpan Rai12 May 2026 04:34
Russia has no intention of ending the war – Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia has no intention of ending the more than four-year-old war with his country and Kyiv was preparing for further attacks.
Zelensky made his comments as a US-mediated ceasefire linked to Russia’s 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany drew to a close, with each side accusing the other of violating it.
He also spoke two days after Russian president Vladimir Putin suggested the conflict was coming to an end.
“Today there was no silence on the front line. Combat actions have continued,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
Arpan Rai12 May 2026 04:30
Briefing: What we know on the 1,538th day of Ukraine war
- Ukraine’s foreign minister says Europe can help the war-hit nation achieve a ceasefire with Russia – starting with halting attacks on each other’s airports first
- Monday sees resumption of attacks along Russia-Ukraine war frontline, Zelensky confirms
- Ukrainian president says Russia has ‘no intention’ of ending the war in Ukraine, leaving Kyiv to prepare for new attacks
- EU’s foreign policy chief rejects Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder could represent Europe in future talks with Moscow on European security arrangements
Arpan Rai12 May 2026 04:29
