Fugitive Vice Prime Minister Chernyshov returned to Ukraine and spoke of a “smear campaign”

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, who became a figure in a criminal investigation and had left the country, has returned to Ukraine.

This was first reported on Telegram by Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament from the Holos party, and later confirmed by Chernyshov himself.

“I confirm: Oleksiy Chernyshov has returned to Ukraine,” Zheleznyak wrote.

Shortly afterward, Chernyshov published a post on his Facebook page announcing his return. He also promised to comment on the “smear campaign” against him.

“Finally home. A difficult but very important business trip (which, thanks to some media outlets, unexpectedly became popular) has ended. Tomorrow I return to work in the Cabinet: time to put our agreements into practice,” the deputy prime minister wrote.

As a reminder, after Chernyshov left Ukraine, his properties were searched, and NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) along with SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office) detained two of his close associates — Maksym Horbatiuk, Commercial Director of JSC Ukrgasvydobuvannya, and Vasyl Volodin, a board member of Naftogaz.

It was previously reported that Chernyshov had been persuaded to return by Timur Mindich, a businessman close to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is believed to be a key ally of Chernyshov. However, MP Zheleznyak stated that Mindich’s involvement had nothing to do with the return.