Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have launched a criminal investigation into a sitting deputy prime minister, marking a significant escalation in the country’s fight against graft. Oleksiy Chernyshov, a senior official in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration, is under scrutiny over a controversial land purchase scheme. While the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office did not initially name him, officials confirmed that Chernyshov is the focus.
Chernyshov issued a public statement asserting his innocence and expressing willingness to cooperate. According to him, he engaged in a two-hour “constructive” conversation with investigators on Monday and is now reviewing relevant case documents.
The Alleged Land Scam
At the heart of the probe is a land acquisition deal in which government officials allegedly facilitated the purchase of valuable land well below market prices to develop a residential complex. NABU claims Chernyshov received an “unlawful benefit” of 14.5 million hryvnia (approximately $346,000) by participating in the scheme. Others involved were granted discounted apartments.
Prosecutors believe the overall damage to the Ukrainian state may exceed 1 billion hryvnia. Investigators say multiple criminal cases have been opened against other officials and private developers tied to the deal. The transaction appears to have been orchestrated during Chernyshov’s time as Ukraine’s Minister for Communities and Territories Development.
Background and Political Relevance
Chernyshov returned to Kyiv from a diplomatic trip to Europe just before the allegations were publicly confirmed. The probe strikes a blow to Ukraine’s public messaging around transparency and reform—especially critical amid its bid to join the European Union.
FCRF x CERT-In Roll Out National Cyber Crisis Management Course to Prepare India’s Digital Defenders
A longtime political insider, Chernyshov was CEO of Ukraine’s state energy giant Naftogaz until 2022. He later re-entered the cabinet to focus on reintegration efforts for Ukrainian refugees returning home. He now holds one of the highest posts in Zelenskyy’s administration, making this case especially high-profile.
Anti-Corruption Push Amid Wartime Scrutiny
Ukraine’s anti-graft institutions have been under pressure to deliver results. As billions in foreign aid flow into the country during the ongoing war with Russia, international donors and watchdogs have demanded concrete steps to curb systemic corruption.
While Chernyshov insists on transparency and full cooperation, the case raises serious concerns over how entrenched corruption remains within the upper echelons of power. It also sends a strong message that even the highest officials will not be immune from legal scrutiny in post-Maidan Ukraine’s evolving accountability framework.