STORY: Anti-corruption authorities in Ukraine said they conducted searches linked to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff and top peace negotiator Andriy Yermak on Friday (November 28).

Yermak said on Telegram searches were taking place in his home and he was cooperating fully.

In a joint statement, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said the searches were "authorized" and linked to an unspecified investigation.

"NABU and SAPO are conducting investigative actions (searches) at the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine," they said. "Investigative actions are authorized and are being carried out within the framework of an investigation."

Earlier this month, the two agencies unveiled a sweeping investigation into an alleged $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic energy company that has ensnared former senior officials and Zelenskiy's ex-business partner.

Yermak has not been named a suspect in the investigation, but opposition lawmakers and some members of Zelenskiy's own party had called for his dismissal as part of Ukraine's worst wartime political crisis.

The searches, which are likely to inflame tensions between Zelenskiy and his political opponents, come as Kyiv faces pressure to accept a U.S.-backed peace deal in its war with Russia.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: UKRAINE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF, ANDRIY YERMAK, ACCOMPANYING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKIY AT INTERNATIONAL AND UKRAINIAN EVENTS AND VISITS / YERMAK AT PEACE TALKS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE IN ISTANBUL

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (FILE - FEBRUARY 23, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. UKRAINE PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF, ANDRIY YERMAK, SPEAKING

2. PANEL OF UKRAINIAN TOP GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY OFFICIALS DURING FORUM, YERMAK TALKING

MADRID, SPAIN (RECENT - NOVEMBER 18, 2025) (SPANISH PARLIAMENT TV - Access all)

3. VARIOUS OF FAMILY PHOTO WITH UKRAINIAN AND SPANISH DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING YERMAK (SECOND ONE FROM THE RIGHT)

VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, FRANCE (RECENT - NOVEMBER 17, 2025) (AGENCY POOL - Access all)

4. SOLDIER SALUTING TO UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY AND FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON / ZELENSKIY AND MACRON WALKING / MACRON GREETING YERMAK

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE - OCTOBER 17, 2025) (UNRESTRICTED POOL – Access all)

5. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TALKING DURING MEETING WITH ZELENSKIY AT THE WHITE HOUSE

6. YERMAK SITTING NEXT TO ZELENSKIY AT MEETING

7. ZELENSKIY TALKING

KYIV, UKRAINE (FILE - JULY 14, 2025) (ANDRIY YERMAK VIA TELEGRAM - Access all)

8. VARIOUS OF YERMAK WELCOMING U.S. ENVOY FOR UKRAINE, KEITH KELLOGG

9. KELLOGG TALKING TO YERMAK

KYIV, UKRAINE (FILE - AUGUST 24, 2025) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE - Access all)

10. YERMAK SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM AND KELLOGG STANDING NEXT TO HIM

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, UKRAINE (FILE - DECEMBER 12, 2024) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE - Access all)

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, WALKING INTO DUGOUT, THEN SAYING: "Greetings, guys."

12. (MUTE) YERMAK

13. (MUTE) ZELENSKIY LISTENING TO SOLDIER

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (FILE - MARCH 11, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

14. VARIOUS OF YERMAK LEANING ON CHAIR

15. U.S., SAUDI ARABIA, AND UKRAINIAN FLAGS

16. THEN UKRAINE’S DEFENCE MINISTER RUSTEM UMEROV AND YERMAK SPEAKING TO MEDIA

17. VARIOUS OF YERMAK TALKING TO JOURNALISTS

ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FILE - MAY 16, 2025) (ANDRIY YERMAK VIA TELEGRAM – Access all)

18. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO AND YERMAK WALKING

19. DELEGATIONS GATHERING AROUND TABLE

20. (LEFT TO RIGHT) UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER ANDRIY SYBIHA, YERMAK, THEN UKRAINE'S DEFENCE MINISTER, RUSTEM UMEROV

KYIV, UKRAINE (FILE - APRIL 15, 2021) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE - Access all)

21. UKRAINIAN SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT MEETING

22. YERMAK

23. (LEFT TO RIGHT) THEN UKRAINIAN SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY OLEXIY DANILOV, YERMAK, ZELENSKIY, THEN PRIME MINISTER DENYS SHMYGAL AT SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING

KYIV, UKRAINE (FILE - NOVEMBER 16, 2021) (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE - Access all)

24. ZELENSKIY SPEAKING DURING MEETING WITH THEN BRITAIN'S DEFENCE MINISTER, BEN WALLACE, AND HIS DELEGATION

25. YERMAK AT MEETING

26. ZELENSKIY AT MEETING