On Thursday, Ukraine’s anti-corruption court ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak, a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on charges of money laundering. Yermak, formerly the head of Zelenskyy’s administration, has denied the allegations. The court set bail at 140 million hryvnias, equivalent to $3.19 million, allowing Yermak to secure release while awaiting a final ruling.

Speaking to reporters, Yermak expressed his inability to pay the hefty bail immediately, stating, “I don’t have that kind of money, and my lawyer will now work with friends and acquaintances to raise the money for bail.” He added, “My legal team will file an appeal. We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth.”

Yermak was identified as a suspect in a significant corruption investigation. This arrest marks the closest approach of anti-corruption authorities to the president’s inner circle. According to a statement from Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies, Yermak is suspected of being involved in a criminal group that laundered about $10.5 million through an upscale housing project near Kyiv.

Despite holding an unelected position, Yermak was regarded as Ukraine’s second most powerful figure after Zelenskyy. As a former film producer and entertainment lawyer, he was frequently seen beside the president at public occasions and served as Kyiv’s lead negotiator in peace talks backed by the U.S. with Russia. His resignation last year was part of a broader government overhaul aiming to improve trust in the president’s office, which has been clouded by allegations of centralized power.

While the charges against Yermak are unlikely to pose an immediate threat to Zelenskyy, they might harm his reputation if he seeks re-election post-war. Prosecutors clarified that Zelenskyy has not been implicated, but there was no immediate response from the president’s office concerning the court’s decision. The Kremlin dismissed it as a “problem for the Kyiv regime,” indicating they were not tracking the case.

“These are definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end,” said Zelenskyy.

As Yermak’s case unfolds, Ukraine remains under intense pressure from escalating Russian drone and missile strikes. The country’s Air Force reported a surge in attacks shortly after a brief U.S.-brokered ceasefire ended. Ukrainian authorities confirmed at least five fatalities and numerous injuries due to the assaults. In Kyiv, a portion of a residential building was destroyed, leading to a rescue operation captured in images by the State Emergency Service.

Zelenskyy, addressing the situation on social media, noted, “Russia has used more than 1,560 drones against our cities and communities since midnight yesterday.” Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported eleven people had been rescued from the wreckage.

While Russia’s defense ministry described their actions as a “massive strike” targeting military infrastructure, they did not address the residential building in Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a potential end to the invasion but later backtracked, stating that more work is needed before any peace deal could be finalized.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha highlighted ongoing tensions by referring to Thursday’s attack during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China. He insisted that continued pressure on Moscow is necessary, writing, “There should be no illusions or wishful thinking: only pressure on Moscow can force him to stop.” Sybiha expressed confidence that leaders in the U.S. and China possess sufficient influence over Moscow to prompt an end to the conflict.