Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities raided the residence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s influential chief of staff on Friday, intensifying a political crisis as Kyiv comes under mounting pressure from Washington to agree to a peace settlement.
The official, Andriy Yermak, who leads Kyiv’s negotiating team trying to hash out terms after Washington presented a draft backing Russian demands, confirmed his apartment was being searched and said he was fully cooperating.
In a joint statement, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said the searches were “authorised” and linked to an unspecified investigation.
Earlier this month, the two anti-corruption agencies unveiled a sweeping investigation into an alleged $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic energy company that ensnared former senior officials and an ex-business partner of Zelenskyy.
Searches Could Inflame Political Tensions
Friday’s searches are likely to inflame tensions between Zelenskyy and his political opponents as Kyiv faces mounting pressure to accept a deal that could force it into painful concessions.
In a statement on Thursday, the European Solidarity opposition party criticised Yermak’s role as a negotiator and called on Zelenskyy for “an honest dialogue” with other parties.
Yermak’s Position In Question
As Washington presses for peace, Russian forces advance along the front, nearing Pokrovsk—their biggest potential gain in nearly two years.
On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said a 28-point U.S. peace plan leaked last week could be “a basis for future agreements”. He demanded Kyiv withdraw troops from eastern land it holds before Moscow stops fighting.
Speaking to The Atlantic magazine this week, Yermak said “no one should count on us giving up territory”.
Political analyst Viktor Shlinchak, of the Kyiv-based Institute for World Politics, described the searches as a “Black Friday” for Yermak and suggested Zelenskyy may be forced to dismiss him.
(With inputs from Reuters)
