**Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister’s Trip Abroad Approved Amid Corruption Investigation**
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov’s official trip abroad will continue until the end of the week. This announcement comes as media speculations surround Chernyshov’s absence from a Kyiv forum he organized, which led to suspicions about his involvement in an ongoing corruption investigation.
According to reports, Chernyshov was scheduled to attend the forum but instead joined online from abroad. His unexpected work trip to Vienna on June 16 came just three days after law enforcement agencies unveiled a corruption scheme involving two officials from the now-dissolved Communities and Territories Development Ministry, which was headed by Chernyshov.
**Corruption Investigation: A Timeline**
* Last year, Chernyshov and two of his associates were investigated over suspicions that they received kickbacks from Serhii Kopystira, the head of the KSM Group, for illicitly transferring a plot of land for real estate development between 2021 and 2022.
* Despite the investigation, no police searches were conducted at the time, as they were blocked by the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, who has a long-standing relationship with Chernyshov.
**Current Status**
Chernyshov traveled to Prague on June 10 and 11 for a business trip, followed by his trip to Vienna a week later. Recent court hearings detailed his role in the corruption scheme. However, there is currently no evidence that his current stay abroad is connected to the investigation.
The National Unity Ministry stated that foreign trips are a regular part of Chernyshov’s work. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to Chernyshov’s team for comment but could not verify all the claims.
**Background**
Chernyshov was appointed head of the state-owned energy company Naftogaz after the dissolution of the Communities and Territories Development Ministry at the end of 2022. In 2024, he took on the role of leading the new National Unity Ministry, which often involves travel abroad, while also being named deputy prime minister.
**Related Developments**
* The investigation into Chernyshov’s involvement in a corruption scheme continues, with two of his associates, Maksym Horbatiuk and Vasyl Volodin, reportedly detained last week.
* Russian forces launched 86 Shahed-type attack drones against Ukraine overnight, while Ukrainian air defenses shot down 34 drones, leaving 36 to disappear from radars or be intercepted by electronic warfare.
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