Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak talks to the press at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)2025-11-28T08:50:38Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Anti-corruption units have raided the home and office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, in an unwelcome distraction for Kyiv officials as they battle to defeat Russias invasion and persuade U.S. officials to accommodate their concerns in peace proposals.Two national agencies fighting entrenched corruption in Ukraine said they searched Yermaks office. Yermak, a powerful figure in Ukraine and a key participant in talks with the United States, confirmed they also searched his apartment.The investigators are facing no obstacles, Yermak wrote on the messaging app Telegram. He added that he was cooperating fully with them and his lawyers were present.The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office are Ukrainian anti-corruption watchdogs. They are behind a major investigation into a $100 million energy sector corruption scandal involving top Ukrainian officials. Two of Yermaks former deputies Oleh Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma left the government in 2024 after watchdogs investigated them for financial wrongdoing. A third deputy, Andrii Smyrnov, was investigated for bribes and other wrongdoing but still works for Yermak. The scandal has heaped more problems on Zelenskyy as he seeks continued support from Western countries for Ukraines war effort and tries to ensure continued foreign funding. The European Union, which Ukraine wants to join, has told Zelenskyy he must crack down on graft. Zelenskyy faced an unprecedented rebellion from his own lawmakers earlier this month after investigators published details of their energy sector investigation.Although Yermak was not accused of any wrongdoing, several senior lawmakers in Zelenskyys party said Yermak should take responsibility for the debacle in order to restore public trust. Some said that if Zelenskyy didnt fire him, the party could split, threatening the presidents parliamentary majority. But Zelenskyy defied them. Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to unite and stop the political games in light of the U.S. pressure to reach a settlement with Russia.Yermak met Zelenskyy over 15 years ago when he was a lawyer venturing into the TV production business and Zelenskyy was a famous Ukrainian comedian and actor.He oversaw foreign affairs as part of Zelenskyys first presidential team and was promoted to chief of staff in February 2020.Yermak has accompanied Zelenskyy on every trip abroad since Russias invasion in February 2022, and the presidents trust in him has made Yermaks power appear almost untouchable.Domestically, officials describe Yermak as Zelenskyys gatekeeper, and he is widely believed to have chosen all top government appointees, including prime ministers and ministers.Individuals connected to Yermak and the presidents office have come under investigation before.___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine