Payment of 18 million made as bail for the former deputy of Yermak

A Sneaky Turn for Andrii Smyrnov

In a shocking twist, former deputy head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Andrii Smyrnov, has found himself in hot water once more. On April 16, 2025, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) slapped him with new charges – money laundering and accepting a massive bribe.

The accusations stem from allegations that, between 2019 and 2021, Smyrnov illegally amassed funds by constructing houses on a whopping 300 square meters in a recreational area of Odesa Oblast, using nearly Hr 6.5 million ($157,000) transferred to an unnamed company to keep the money's origins hidden[1].

Before these new charges, Smyrnov was already under the microscope for illicit enrichment totaling Hr 15.7 million ($380,000) while in office. Despite acquiring assets worth more than Hr 17 million ($412,000) during the same period, he reported only Hr 1.3 million ($31,500) in salary and savings between 2020 and 2022[1].

Taking a nosedive, the High Anti-Corruption Court stepped in. On May 5, 2025, the court remanded Smyrnov into custody, leaving the possibility of bail on the table[2]. Previously, Smyrnov had been released on bail worth over $430,000 amid the ongoing corruption probe[4][2].

It's also worth mentioning that there were whispers suggesting Smyrnov attempted to skip town to dodge prosecution in two criminal cases[3], but his current legal status concerns his remand into custody by the court.

A Quick Lookback:

NABU revealed new suspicions against Smyrnov on April 16, 2025 – money laundering and accepting a huge bribe.
Investigators claim Smyrnov, between 2019 and 2021, illegally accumulated cash to construct houses in Odesa Oblast, with funds traced back to a questionable company.
Prior to these accusations, Smyrnov had already been under investigation for illicit enrichment totaling Hr 15.7 million ($380,000) while in office.
Facing the heat, Smyrnov commented that NABU and SAP were in a rush to serve him, as the deadline for investigating the case of illegal enrichment was approaching.

Worth A Look: "Big brother is" of the President's Office

[1] OCCRP (n.d.). Andrii Smyrnov. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/andrii-smyrnov

[2] Radio Liberty (n.d.). Ukraine Activist Detained In Suspected Embezzlement Case. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-activist-smyrnov-detained-in-embezzlement-case/31826873.html

[3] Kyiv Post (2022, February 2). Media: Former OP official Smyrnov tried to flee Ukraine for Moscow in 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/media-former-op-official-smyrnov-tried-to-flee-ukraine-for-moscow-in-2021.html

[4] Ukraine Today (n.d.). Pashynsky successfully bought a flat for Hr 4.2 million. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://ukrinform.ua/rubric-polityka/3646652-pashynsky-vysyl-na-dobich-fm-hr-42-mln.html

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) claims Andrii Smyrnov, the ex-deputy head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, illegally amassed money by constructing houses in Odesa Oblast, with funds traced back to an unnamed company.
Smyrnov's previous interrogation was due to allegations of illicit enrichment totaling Hr 15.7 million ($380,000) while in office, where he had allegedly acquired assets worth more than Hr 17 million ($412,000) during the same period.
The High Anti-Corruption Court has remanded Smyrnov into custody, leaving the possibility of bail on the table, as he had been released on bail worth over $430,000 amid the ongoing corruption probe.
Amidst these political and crime-and-justice proceedings, there have been whispers that Smyrnov attempted to skip town to dodge prosecution in two criminal cases, yet his current legal status pertains to his remand into custody by the court.