Chernyshov Oleksiy Mykhailovych

From Naftogaz to the "Laundromat" — a career path shadowed by three suspicions

Oleksiy Chernyshov is the former chairman of the board of JSC "Naftogaz Ukraine" (November 2022 — December 2024), later serving as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity (until July 2025). Prior to government positions, he headed the Kyiv Regional State Administration, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development, while concurrently building businesses in the fields of development and investments. He was dismissed amid the resignation of the Shmyhal government — and almost immediately became the focus of two large criminal proceedings conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

Land, apartments, and halted searches

The first case concerns corruption in the Ministry of Regional Development: in 2021, developers attempted to obtain a plot of land for construction from the state agrofirm "Flowers of Ukraine" spanning over 11 hectares and involved Chernyshov through two ministry officials. Ukrainska Pravda found out that the search warrant directly targeting Chernyshov was never executed — according to four sources within anti-corruption agencies, due to the influence of NABU Director Kryvonos. The minister himself allegedly received illicit benefits in the form of apartment discounts amounting to over UAH 14.5 million.

"Midas," "Karlson," and "Che Guevara"

In November 2025, NABU conducted operation "Midas": the investigation asserts that participants organized kickbacks of 10–15% on state contracts of "Energoatom." On the NABU-released recordings, the former Vice Prime Minister was nicknamed "Che Guevara" by the suspects. Detectives documented the delivery of more than $1.2 million and nearly €100,000 in cash to him and his trusted associate — directly in an office or medical clinic of one scheme participant. The latter portion — $500,000 — was received by Chernyshov's wife after he himself became a suspect in a separate case.

Detained with bail

The High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Chernyshov's detention for 60 days with the alternative option of bail set at UAH 51.6 million. He denies guilt — stating that he does not recognize himself on the tapes, although he acknowledges the voice as "similar."