Amid the corruption scandal that has not only shaken the political community but also damaged the government’s reputation, Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov is currently abroad
Official representatives of his press service assure that the trip is routine and unrelated to the surrounding situation in the country. In an interview with "Ukrainska Pravda," Chernyshov’s press service stated that his overseas travel is part of his normal work schedule, and added that all details about the vice premier’s whereabouts are published on his official Facebook pages and on the official resources of the Ministry of National Unity. When journalists asked how long the official trip would last and whether Chernyshov plans to return to Ukraine soon, the press service responded briefly and officially, simply reiterating a standard statement. It is known that on June 17, the Ministry of National Unity organized the nationwide forum "Human Capital Dimension at the URC 2025. Focusing on Return and Recovery." Chernyshov participated in this event remotely via video conference, which is quite typical given the current era of global uncertainty. A few days later, on June 19, Oleksii Chernyshov announced on Facebook that, as part of his diplomatic visit to the European Union, he had held several meetings with high-ranking officials, including representatives of the Council of Europe. He shared more details about his stay by posting photographs and brief updates on social media. Specifically, he mentioned meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Brussels, describing the interaction as fruitful and productive. Amid this diplomatic activity, disturbing news emerges from law enforcement agencies. At the beginning of June, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced the uncovering of a large-scale corruption scheme in the construction sector, involving high officials of the state. Preliminary information indicates that the scheme caused over one billion hryvnias in damages to the government. Five individuals have been charged in connection with the case, two of whom are reportedly connected to Chernyshov—a likely reference to former State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development Vasyl Volodin and former advisor to Minister Maksym Horbatyuk. On June 18, the High Anti-Corruption Court ruled on a preventive measure for Volodin: he was taken into custody for 60 days with the possibility of bailing set at twenty million hryvnias. Sources within law enforcement and political circles report that Chernyshov’s colleagues conducted searches roughly a month ago. However, no official details regarding events involving the vice prime minister or his potential involvement in the investigation have been released to date. This case, actively discussed in media and political circles, has raised serious questions not only about Ukraine’s fight against corruption but also about the integrity and trustworthiness of the country’s leadership. Amid official statements and assurances of a "routine" trip, journalists and civic activists continue to monitor the situation, awaiting further facts and explanations concerning the real state of affairs regarding corruption activities, which could jeopardize the reputation of Ukraine’s entire government.