Searches at the office of the head of the presidential administration, Jermak. Anti-corruption authorities intervene, raising questions about political connections.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) are conducting extensive searches at the residence and office of Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, considered one of the most influential figures in Ukrainian politics and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closest associate. The authorities have officially confirmed the raid, stating that it is part of an approved investigation.

The first information about the raid was provided by MPs and Ukrainian media, followed by a statement from Yermak himself on Telegram. According to him, his legal team is present and investigators have full access to his residence. Neither the authorities nor Yermak himself have disclosed his whereabouts at the time of the raid.

The inspections come in the wake of a widespread corruption scandal in the energy sector, which NABU refers to as Operation Midas. According to investigators, it involved money laundering worth at least $100 million and was allegedly run by businessman Tymur Mindych, who has long been associated with Zelensky. His home and the homes of other officials, including Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Enerhoatom, have already been searched. Mindyč left Ukraine shortly before the raid and is currently in Israel.

In connection with the energy scandal, senior state officials, including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, have already been charged. Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk and Justice Minister Halushenko, who previously served as energy minister, have also resigned. The media had previously speculated whether the affair would also affect Yermak, who had not yet been named among the suspects.

At the same time, there has been speculation that the current intervention may have broader political implications. According to sources cited by the Ukrainian website Strana, the searches could be a signal from the United States for Kyiv to adjust its position in negotiations on the American peace plan for Ukraine. Washington presented this as a 28-point document, which was later narrowed down to 22 points. Some of the proposals are still under discussion between US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Yermak, who leads the Ukrainian negotiating team, has previously emphasised that Ukraine will not make any territorial concessions. According to some analysts, the current approach of the anti-corruption authorities can be seen as pressure to change his position or weaken his influence. Another version speaks of an attempt by the so-called „anti-Zelensky coalition“ to limit the power of the president's entourage and turn the head of state into a politically weaker figurehead. The key point of such a scenario would be the removal of Yermak.

At the same time, Ukraine finds itself in the midst of a protracted war with Russia and domestic discussions about peace terms and the fight against corruption. The public is particularly sensitive to the energy scandal due to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, which threaten electricity and heat supplies.

gnews.cz - GH