Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Ireland scrapped as his chief of staff resigns amid corruption investigation

"The move comes as Zelensky announced the resignation of his chief of staff Andrii Yermak, whose residence was searched earlier in the day by anti-corruption investigators. Mr Yermak has been Ukraine's lead negotiator in peace talks with Russia and the US, and he has been a trusted confidante of Mr Zelensky for years. The unprecedented searches at the heart of Ukraine's government come at a time when Kyiv is under intense US pressure to sign a peace deal nearly four years after Russia invaded."

"Oleksii Tkachuk, a spokesman for Mr Yermak, said the anti-graft agencies had not served a notice of suspicion, meaning Mr Yermak was not a suspect in an investigation. Mr Tkachuk added that Mr Yermak had not been told what the searches related to. Mr Yermak, a powerful figure in Ukraine and a key participant in talks with the US, confirmed that officials searched his apartment in the presidential compound in central Kyiv, where checkpoints limit public access."

"Media reports said Mr Yermak's office was also searched, but investigators declined to comment on that. "The investigators are facing no obstacles," Mr Yermak wrote on Telegram. He added that he was co-operating fully with them and his lawyers were present. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office are leading a major investigation into a 100 million dollar (£75 million) energy sector corruption scandal involving senior Ukrainian officials which has dominated domestic"

Andrii Yermak resigned as Ukraine's chief of staff after anti-corruption agencies searched his residence in the presidential compound. Two national agencies, NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, led searches targeting Yermak as part of a major investigation into a $100 million (£75 million) energy-sector corruption scandal involving senior officials. Spokesman Oleksii Tkachuk said no notice of suspicion was served and Yermak had not been told what the searches related to. Yermak confirmed the apartment search, said investigators faced no obstacles, and said he was cooperating fully with lawyers present. The searches occur amid US pressure on Kyiv to sign a peace deal and recent Russian territorial gains.

Read at Irish Independent