Kyiv: Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies have launched investigative actions against Andriy Yermak, the presidential chief of staff. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced the searches on Friday, noting that Yermak, who has led Ukraine's presidential office since 2020, is a target of their inquiries.

According to Anadolu Agency, the investigative measures are part of an ongoing probe into a corruption scandal within the country's energy sector, which NABU and SAPO uncovered earlier this month. The agencies have assured that their actions are legally authorized. Yermak confirmed the searches, stating that investigators have been granted full access to his apartment and that his lawyers are cooperating with law enforcement.

While specific details of the investigation remain undisclosed, the Financial Times reported that the searches are linked to the energy corruption probe. NABU revealed that the scheme involved Energoatom, Ukraine's national nuclear energy provider, and has led to the resignation of the country's justice and energy ministers.

The investigation, which NABU said involved 15 months of work and 1,000 hours of audio recordings, alleges that members of a "criminal organization" demanded illicit benefits ranging from 10% to 15% of state contract values. Efforts to tackle corruption are crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union, which began accession talks with Kyiv in June 2024.

Critics argue that corruption has been a long-standing issue in Kyiv, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war diverting attention from anti-corruption initiatives.