Ukrainian deputy prime minister suspected of corruption in high-profile case
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated with additional details.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov has been formally named a suspect in a high-profile illegal land grab case, becoming the highest-ranking official in Ukrainian history to face such charges while in office.
After reports and public speculation around Chernyshov’s potential involvement, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) on June 23 released a statement announcing that he was the sixth suspect in a “large-scale” corruption scheme lead by a property developer from Kyiv who illegally claimed a land plot to build a residential complex.
Chernyshov, who heads the new National Unity Ministry in charge of returning refugees, is a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky. He raised eyebrows in Ukraine after leaving the country on June 16, just three days after law enforcement revealed a massive corruption scheme and detained two of his former close associates — Maksym Horbatiuk and Vasyl Volodin.
According to the anti-corruption agency, during his time as Development of Communities and Territories Minister in 2020-2022, Chernyshov and his associates undervalued land plots by five times to benefit the developer, which Ukrainian media identified as Serhii Kopystyra, which allegedly cost the state Hr 1 billion ($24 million).
In exchange, NABU says the developer gave kickbacks to Chernyshov and his accomplices with “significant” discounts on apartments, totaling over Hr 14.5 million ($346,000). Ukrainska Pravda reports this took place between 2021-2022.
NABU and Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) seized the plot to prevent the scheme. Most of the illegally obtained apartments have been seized.
Chernyshov arrived back in the country on June 22 after suspicions mounted in Ukraine that he was on the run and avoiding detention. In a Facebook post, the minister said he was back from an “important” business trip and said he was being targeted by a “discreditation campaign.”
After arriving at NABU offices on June 23, he wrote on Facebook that he had a “constructive chat” with detectives and will cooperate with the organization. Hours before, he maintained his innocence.
An investigation into Chernyshov and two of his associates took place last year after suspicions arose, according to Ukrainska Pravda. However, sources in anti-corruption agencies told Ukrainska Pravda that the head of NABU, Semen Kryvonos, blocked police searches due to his close relationship with Chernyshov.
Chernyshov was appointed head of state-owned energy giant Naftogaz in 2022 after the dissolution of the Communities and Territories Development Ministry. He became the national unity minister in December 2024, a ministry created from scratch.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat