Andriy Yermak Charged in Major Ukrainian Money-Laundering Investigation

Andriy Yermak was arrested on Thursday in connection to a corruption scandal. Yermak, who served as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former right-hand man, is accused of laundering 460 million hryvnia through an elite real estate project outside of Kyiv. The sum equals more than $10 million.

He is also accused of using a secret phone to consult an astrologer on key government appointments. France 24 reported the details of the accusations against the former presidential aide. The arrest of Andriy Yermak comes as a major test for both the Ukrainian government and the country's independent anti-corruption agencies.

Authorities have not released further details on the timing or location of the arrest itself. The case centers on alleged financial misconduct tied to high-value property development near the capital. Prosecutors have linked the 460 million hryvnia in question to dirty money funneled through the project.

Yermak’s influence once extended across many sensitive areas of Ukrainian governance. The accusations now cast a spotlight on decisions made during his tenure, including personnel matters where an astrologer was reportedly consulted via a dedicated secret phone. Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies have pursued several high-profile cases in recent years.

This latest development involving such a senior former official will test both the government’s commitment to transparency and the agencies’ operational independence. The scandal emerges against the backdrop of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to combat graft while managing a full-scale war. How institutions handle the Yermak matter could shape perceptions of accountability at the highest levels.