Zelensky’s team over seven years: scandals, sanctions and pre-trial detention

Seven years ago, they came to power together with Volodymyr Zelensky under the slogans of “new faces” and the fight against the old system. But some of the people from the president’s inner circle have now found themselves at the center of high-profile scandals, criminal cases, and political conflicts.

This is stated in the material of 5.UA.

One of the first to leave Zelensky’s team was former Verkhovna Rada Speaker Dmytro Razumkov. He was dismissed in 2021 after a conflict over the law on oligarchs. Razumkov is now in opposition to the government.

Former head of the President’s Office, Andriy Bohdan, repeatedly publicly criticized Bankova after his dismissal. Later, the National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions against him.

“Sanctions are revenge,” was how people reacted to the NSDC decision on social media and in political circles.

Serhiy Shefir, who was one of Zelensky’s closest friends and the president’s first aide, virtually disappeared from public politics after the assassination attempt in 2021. However, his name resurfaced in the scandal surrounding the so-called “Mindich tapes.”

The recordings allegedly discussed assistance in collecting bail for the former deputy prime minister. In one of the fragments, the phrase “NABU is acting savagely along the lines of the president” is heard.

Former deputy head of the OP Kyrylo Tymoshenko also did not avoid scandals. After investigations into the use of a humanitarian vehicle and an undeclared Porsche, he left his post in 2023.

The case of former head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, is currently attracting special attention. In May 2026, NABU and SAPO informed him of suspicion in a money laundering case.

“I am staying in Ukraine. I insist on my innocence,” Yermak said after being released from pre-trial detention on bail.

The former head of the SBU, Ivan Bakanov, a childhood friend of Zelensky, was also in the spotlight. During a meeting of the parliamentary TSC, businessman Vaganyan stated that there was a system of bribes in the SBU.

“The security service was actually led by Naumov, and Bakanov acted as an intermediary,” he claimed.

Despite personnel rotations and numerous scandals, some people from Zelensky’s first team still remain in power. In particular, Ruslan Stefanchuk continues to head the Verkhovna Rada.

The story of the “dream team,” which in 2019 promised a complete reboot of power, has turned into a series of political conflicts, investigations, and

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