In a joint statement, Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies said a former senior official was suspected of participating in a criminal group that allegedly laundered around $10.5 million through a luxury residential development near Kyiv.

The agencies did not publicly identify the suspect, in accordance with Ukrainian legal procedure, but local media widely identified the individual as Yermak, once regarded as one of the most influential figures in the presidential administration.

Speaking to Radio Liberty, Yermak denied owning property in the housing complex linked to the investigation, but declined to comment further on the allegations.

The probe forms part of a broader anti-corruption investigation launched last year that has implicated several high-profile political and business figures tied to the Ukrainian government.

In November, prosecutors accused a former business associate of Zelensky of orchestrating a $100 million kickback scheme connected to the state atomic energy sector. A former deputy prime minister with close ties to the president was also charged in the same investigation.

Zelensky’s communications adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, told reporters it was premature to comment on the case against Yermak because procedural steps were still underway.

Yermak, a former film producer and entertainment lawyer, emerged as a central power broker after Zelensky took office. He frequently accompanied the president at official events and played a leading role in negotiations linked to U.S.-backed peace initiatives involving Russia.

His resignation last year came during a broader reshuffle within the Ukrainian government aimed at restoring public confidence amid growing criticism over concentrated authority within the president’s office.

The latest allegations come as Ukraine continues to rely heavily on Western military and financial support, with Kyiv under sustained pressure from allies to demonstrate progress in combating entrenched corruption and strengthening institutional transparency during wartime.

“Yesterday, there was some rather unusual activity along the Ukraine-Belarus border on the Belarusian side,” Zelensky said in his daily evening address to the nation.“We are closely monitoring the situation, keeping everything under control, and will respond if necessary,” he added, without providing further details about the troop movements, military deployments or the nature of the activity observed.

Ukraine’s air force and border guard did not immediately comment on the statement.The remarks come after Kyiv had in recent weeks publicly urged Belarus not to increase its participation in the conflict, warning against any actions that could expand the northern front of the war.

Belarus, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a staging ground during the initial phase of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian troops launched attacks toward Kyiv from Belarusian territory during the opening weeks of the war.

Although Belarusian forces have not directly entered combat in Ukraine, Minsk has continued to provide logistical and strategic support to Moscow, including hosting Russian troops, military exercises and tactical nuclear deployments announced by the Kremlin in previous years.

President Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly denied plans for direct military intervention but has maintained strong political and security alignment with Russia throughout the conflict.The northern border remains a sensitive security zone for Ukraine, forcing Kyiv to maintain military readiness there even as intense fighting continues on the eastern and southern fronts.

Analysts say any renewed military buildup in Belarus could pressure Ukraine to divert troops from active battle zones, even if no immediate cross-border attack is planned.Zelensky’s warning comes as Ukraine continues to seek stronger Western military support while monitoring Russian troop activity across multiple fronts amid renewed battlefield pressure and broader regional instability.