Ukrainian anti‑corruption agency names Zelenskyy’s ex‑chief of staff as suspect in $10.5 million money‑laundering case

TL;DR: The claim is true: Ukrainian anti‑corruption authorities have named Andriy Yermak, former chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a suspect in a $10.5 million money‑laundering scheme.

Claim: Ukrainian authorities named Andriy Yermak, the former chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, as a suspect in a major corruption investigation involving alleged money‑laundering of about $10.5 million.

Evidence: The Associated Press reported that Ukraine’s National Anti‑Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office named Yermak as a suspect in an alleged 460‑million‑hryvnia ($10.5 million) money‑laundering scheme.

Evidence: The New York Times corroborated the accusation, stating that anti‑corruption agencies identified the former head of the Office of the President as part of a criminal group linked to the same amount.

Evidence: In a public statement, the agencies said the “former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine” was among those suspected of participating in the scheme, though they did not name Yermak directly due to Ukrainian legal restrictions.

Evidence: Ukrainian media outlets, including Radio Liberty, identified Yermak as the individual referenced; he told the outlet he does not own real estate in the development under scrutiny but declined further comment.

Evidence: The investigation is part of a broader probe unveiled last November that also implicated a former Zelenskyy business partner in a $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic agency and led to charges against a former deputy prime minister.

Verdict: The claim is true. Multiple independent sources confirm that Yermak was named a suspect in a $10.5 million money‑laundering investigation, and no reputable outlet has disputed the naming or the amount.

Analysis: The core allegation and the financial figure are solidly backed by AP and NYT reporting, giving the claim a high confidence rating. Additional details—such as the alleged use of an elite housing development outside Kyiv—are not directly verified in the checked sources, resulting in a “mostly_true” rating for that elaboration.

Analysis: A separate claim about a former Zelenskyy business partner and a $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic agency lacks any corroboration in the reviewed AP, NYT, BBC, Wikipedia, and Britannica materials, rendering it unverifiable.

What to watch next: Monitor whether formal charges are filed against Yermak, how Ukrainian courts proceed with the case, and any statements from the President’s office or Yermak’s legal team regarding the investigation.