Ukraine war briefing: Anti-corruption agency in Kyiv accuses deputy PM of corruption
Guardian1 day
Ukrainian Deputy PM Charged in $24M Land Corruption Scheme
Above: Oleksiy Chernyshov in Prague on May 5, 2025. Image copyright: Tomas Tkacik/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This investigation shows that Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies are finally targeting the big fish, not just small-time officials. Chernyshov's convenient foreign trip, which coincided with the arrest of his associates, appears to be a classic case of someone trying to avoid accountability. The fact that he's in President Volodymyr Zelensky's inner circle makes this even more significant for showing real progress on corruption.
Narrative B
The timing of these charges seems politically motivated, coming when Ukraine needs to show EU progress on corruption while fighting a war. Chernyshov returned voluntarily and is cooperating fully with investigators, which doesn't match the behavior of someone guilty of these serious allegations. The case relies heavily on circumstantial evidence and associations rather than direct proof of wrongdoing.