The department tasked with bringing Ukrainians home was dismantled after Aleksey Chernyshov allegedly fled the country to avoid a corruption probe
The Ukrainian government has dismantled the Ministry of National Unity, which was led by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Chernyshov, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak has claimed. The move comes after the official was accused of fleeing the country amid a corruption scandal.
Chernyshov, who was tasked with overseeing the return of Ukrainian citizens from abroad, has been at the center of an investigation involving the alleged illegal transfer of state land in exchange for luxury housing. Ukrainian media has reported that several of the suspects are his former subordinates, and one of the properties under investigation is linked to his former head of security.
Last month, when visiting Austria along with Vladimir Zelensky, several journalists claimed that Chernyshov had failed to return to Ukraine, speculating that he had gone into hiding to avoid the probe. Ukrainian MP Artyom Dmitruk and journalist Anatoly Shariy, both exiled critics of the current Ukrainian government, noted that Chernyshov’s supposed escape seemed to coincide with the criminal investigation against him gaining traction.
Chernyshov’s office has denied any connection between his foreign travel and the criminal probe. Zelensky later referred to the trip as an official assignment, and Chernyshov subsequently announced his return to Ukraine.
However, according to Zheleznyak, Chernyshov has now been dismissed and his ministry formally abolished and merged with other departments in an effort to avoid framing the move as a “liquidation of unity.”
This comes amid reports that Kiev’s leadership has been increasingly mired in what The Economist has described as “palace politics” and bitter infighting. The outlet’s sources have suggested that the turmoil is linked to Andrey Yermak, the powerful head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office, who is seen as actively sidelining other key figures close to the Ukrainian leader.
The reported liquidation of the Unity Ministry comes amid a sweeping reshuffle within the government. Prime Minister Denis Shmigal has been replaced by Yulia Sviridenko and will reportedly take over the Defense Ministry, while Rustem Umerov, the outgoing defense chief, has reportedly been tapped to serve as ambassador to the US.
