Ukraine ex-presidential aide Andrij Jermak freed on $2.7M

Kyiv, Ukraine — May 18, 2026 --- Ukraine's Supreme Anti-Corruption Court has released former presidential chief of staff Andrij Jermak on bail of 2.7 million euros ($2.9 million) after he spent four days in detention on money laundering charges. ## Corruption Allegations and Bail Jermak, 54, who served as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's top advisor from 2020 to 2025, is accused of participating in an organized scheme to launder nearly 9 million euros through a luxury residential project called "Dynasty" in the Kyiv suburb of Kosyn. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) alleges that high-ranking officials solicited illegal kickbacks from contractors, with funds allegedly laundered through the construction venture. "Operation Midas," the largest corruption investigation since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, became public in late 2025. Prosecutors claim Jermak communicated with an astrologer known as "Weronika Feng-Shui"—who Ukrainian media reports allege has Russian ties—to "hex" investigators and journalists scrutinizing the case. Jermak's lawyer Ihor Fomin and other supporters pooled 3.1 million euros to secure his release after the court initially ordered a 60-day pretrial detention last week. The 54-year-old must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and is barred from leaving Ukraine or contacting six co-defendants, including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. ## Reactions and Defense Jermak maintains his innocence, telling reporters as he left Kyiv Detention Center on Monday morning: "My legal team will appeal. We will exhaust all legal means to find justice and the truth." His lawyer Fomin dismissed the prosecution's case as "nothing but conjecture" during hearings last week. NABU investigators allege Jermak's group exploited wartime conditions to siphon funds meant for reconstruction. The "Dynasty" project, marketed as upscale housing, allegedly served as a front to legitimize illicit payments. The case has drawn attention due to Jermak's proximity to Zelenskyy, whom he represented in diplomatic negotiations until his November 2025 dismissal. Observers note the prosecution tests Ukraine's anti-corruption reforms amid ongoing war with Russia. ## Broader Context Ukraine's anti-graft agencies have intensified investigations since receiving EU candidate status in 2023. The Jermak case follows other high-profile arrests, though critics argue progress remains uneven. Meanwhile, Russia reported intercepting over 3,124 Ukrainian drones in the past week, while Ukrainian strikes killed at least four people in Russian territory. President Zelenskyy defended recent attacks on Moscow as "justified response to Russian assaults on our cities."

Ukraine's Former Presidential Chief of Staff Released on $2.7 Million Bail in Corruption Case

Corruption Allegations and Bail

Reactions and Defense

Broader Context