Ukraine court orders arrest of Zelenskyy ally Andriy Yermak

Ukraine's anti-corruption court on Thursday ordered the pre-trial detention of Andriy Yermak, a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on suspicion of money laundering.

The court set bail at 140 million hryvnias ($3.19 million, €2.72 million), allowing Yermak to be released pending a final ruling in ​his case.

"I don't have that kind of money, and ​my lawyer ‌will now work with friends and acquaintances (to raise the money for bail)," Yermak told reporters after the court's decision. "My legal team will file an appeal. ‌We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth."

He denies the allegations.

Yermak, Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff, had been Ukraine's lead negotiator in talks with the United States but stepped down in November last year amid a major corruption probe.

Investigation also implicates other Zelenskyy inner circle officials

Yermak has been accused of involvement in a 460-million-hryvnia money-laundering scheme linked to a housing development outside Kyiv, by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

It is part of a bigger probe by Ukraine's ​anti-graft agencies implicating officials and associates close to Zelenskyy in a $100 million kickback scheme.

Ukrainian anti-graft agency investigates top Zelenskyy aide

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The officials allegedly pressured contractors to pay up to 15% in kickbacks in exchange for construction business with Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear energy company.

Zelenskyy has not be implicated in the probed. 

Who is Andriy Yermak?

Yermak’s home was raided in November 2025 as part of the investigation. 

His resignation shortly after the raid came amid ⁠a broader government shake-up aimed at restoring trust in the president's office.

Yermak has long been close to Zelenskyy, dating back to the president's years as a TV comedian. He helped steer Zelenskyy's 2019 outsider bid for the presidency.

Yermak had led Kyiv's team at tense US-backed peace negotiations,  and even developed possible scenarios for a ceasefire to end Russia's war in Ukraine. 

This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar