Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies have conducted searches at the residence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's powerful chief aide, Andriy Yermak, as part of a widening investigation into a major nuclear energy kickback scheme.
High-Profile Raid in Government Quarter
Journalists captured footage showing approximately ten investigators entering Kyiv's government district on Friday, marking a significant escalation in the corruption probe that has rocked the Ukrainian government. The operation was conducted jointly by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
Yermak, who serves as head of the presidential office and lead negotiator in recent peace talks, confirmed the searches in a social media statement. "The investigators have no obstacles," he stated. "They were given full access to the apartment, my lawyers are on site, interacting with law enforcement officers. From my side, I have full cooperation."
Nuclear Energy Kickback Scheme Uncovered
The scandal first emerged earlier in November when NABU revealed it had uncovered a sophisticated criminal network operating within the highest levels of government. According to investigators, insiders received kickbacks of 10-15% from commercial partners of Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power generator and most important energy supplier.
The alleged mastermind behind the scheme is Timur Mindich, described as an old friend and business partner of President Zelenskyy from their days working together at the Kvartal 95 TV production company. Mindich reportedly fled the country hours before investigators arrived at his Kyiv apartment to make an arrest.
The investigation has drawn upon more than 1,000 hours of secretly recorded conversations obtained by NABU, with some recordings revealing shocking disregard for national security. In one particularly damaging exchange, a suspect expressed that it was a "pity" to build defensive structures for power stations against Russian attacks since the money could be stolen instead.
Political Fallout and Public Outrage
President Zelenskyy has publicly condemned the corruption scheme, and two ministers implicated in the scandal were dismissed earlier this month. However, the timing couldn't be worse for the Ukrainian government, with the revelations emerging as most Ukrainians endure daily electricity blackouts caused by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
The scandal had briefly faded from headlines when former US President Donald Trump unexpectedly released a 28-point peace plan, but Friday's developments thrust the corruption investigation back into the international spotlight. This comes as Ukraine had been carefully advancing a 19-point counterproposal in peace talks, with Yermak himself leading negotiations in Geneva with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Yermak's position as the second most powerful figure in Ukraine after President Zelenskyy adds significant weight to the investigation. As head of the presidential office, he controls the channels through which the leader's political affairs are managed, raising questions about how much senior government figures knew about the alleged corruption.
NABU has indicated it will provide further details about the investigation in the coming days as the search operations continue and evidence is processed.
