Ex-Ukrainian presidential aide says he cannot afford bail request

Former Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said he does not have the funds to post bail set at UAH 180 million ($4,1 млн).

He made the comments in a statement to journalists, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“I definitely do not have that kind of money. I only have what is listed in my declaration,” he said.

As reported, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is requesting bail for Yermak in the amount of UAH 180 million. His lawyer, Ihor Fomin, argued that if bail is imposed, it should be proportionate to Yermak’s declared income.

On May 11, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) served a notice of suspicion on former presidential office head Andriy Yermak. According to investigators, more than UAH 460 million was allegedly legalised between 2021 and 2025 through a scheme involving the “Dynasty” cooperative.

NABU said participants in the “Dynasty” project agreed to build four private residences on land plots for personal use. Each house reportedly had an area of around 1,000 square metres and was valued at approximately $2 million. The properties were referred to as R1, R2, R3 and R4. A shared estate, R0, was also planned, including a spa area, swimming pool and gym.

Investigators allege the main part of construction was financed using funds obtained through criminal activity. Individuals linked to Oleksii Chernyshov also reportedly established a front company to place construction orders.

After the start of the full-scale invasion, construction allegedly continued and even accelerated, with Chernyshov reportedly urging faster work across multiple shifts. Yermak is said to have overseen the construction of his residence.

Following media reports about the “Dynasty” project, property owners allegedly attempted to remove land and real estate from possible seizure. However, the High Anti-Corruption Court froze land plots and five unfinished properties linked to the project, and NABU and SAPO conducted inspections of the estate.

The Office of the President said that procedural actions were ongoing and it was too early to draw conclusions. Yermak’s lawyer also said the suspicion was unfounded.

Yermak has linked the notice of suspicion to what he described as “public pressure on law enforcement agencies,” and has refused to comment further on the allegations, saying he owns no houses, only an apartment and a car.

By Vafa Guliyeva