May 14, 2026, 09:06May 14, 2026, 9:18 am
In Ukraine, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court has ordered pre-trial detention against the former head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak. The judge announced this morning that his detention was initially for 60 days, and Yermak had the option of being released on bail. Yermak was President Volodymyr Zelensky’s right-hand man.
Andriy Yermak.Image: EPA
He has to answer for money laundering charges. He and five other suspects are accused of illegal transactions worth millions in a luxury construction project.
The 54-year-old Jermak categorically rejected the allegations. He also said that he had no means to pay the deposit of the equivalent of 2.72 million euros.
Presidential Office: We don’t deal with esotericism
The day before, details about Jermak’s contact with an esoteric advisor were also revealed. At the hearing in Kiev, the prosecution read out chats between Yermak and the woman who was listed in his telephone contacts as “Veronika Feng Shui Office”.
Accordingly, Yermak, who was Zelenskyj’s right-hand man until November, spoke to the woman about filling top positions in Ukraine. He sent her birth dates of candidates and asked for advice. According to Ukrainian press reports, the 51-year-old woman from Kiev describes herself as an astrological consultant.
Until his resignation, Yermak was considered the second most powerful man in Ukraine and led negotiations on behalf of his country to end the Russian war of aggression. In view of the news from the courtroom, the President’s Office announced that it does not deal with esotericism, numerology, feng shui or anything similar. Zelensky’s advisor Dmytro Lytwyn said he had never seen such representatives in the office. (cst/sda/dpa)