Kyiv, November 28, 2025:
Ukraine’s fight against wartime corruption intensified after the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) raided the office of Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, in connection with an alleged $200 million energy sector graft scandal.
Led by NABU Director Semen Kryvytsky, investigators seized procurement files and correspondence related to Naftogaz’s emergency generator and fuel contracts, which were issued during widespread wartime blackouts following Russian strikes on Ukraine’s grid. Officials suspect inflated contracts and kickbacks involving influential oligarchs, including Rinat Akhmetov.
Yermak, one of Zelensky’s most powerful and trusted aides since 2019, dismissed the allegations on Telegram, calling the accusations “a Russian disinformation operation designed to destabilize Ukraine’s leadership.”
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin pledged a fully transparent investigation, saying no official would be shielded—“including those at the highest levels.”
The probe was initiated after whistleblower MP Oleksiy Goncharenko submitted evidence claiming the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) approved inflated contracts under emergency wartime clauses. SAPO officials are also under scrutiny.
The EU reacted swiftly. Ambassador Matti Maasikas urged a credible investigation, noting that the outcome will directly affect the timing of €50 billion in EU financial assistance tied to governance reforms. The scandal emerges as Ukraine pushes for EU accession by 2028, a process requiring strict anti-corruption benchmarks.
Public trust in Zelensky’s inner circle has dropped, with KIIS polling showing 60% of Ukrainians concerned about rising influence and alleged deals involving presidential allies. Yermak’s brother has denied accusations of nepotism linked to procurement approvals.
The high-stakes investigation comes as Ukraine faces $100 billion in reconstruction needs, and Western partners pressure Kyiv to demonstrate uncompromising anti-corruption enforcement despite the ongoing war.
