Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, following a search of his residence by anti-corruption investigators. This unprecedented event could disrupt Zelenskyy’s negotiating strategy as Kyiv faces pressure from the U.S. to finalise a peace deal with Russia. Yermak, a longtime advisor, has been a controversial figure, and Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russia is looking for any missteps to derail the delicate peace talks.
“We don’t have a right to retreat or argue between ourselves. If we lose unity, we risk losing everything — ourselves, Ukraine, our future,” Zelenskyy said. “We must unite, we must hold on. We have no other choice. We won’t have another Ukraine.”
“To preserve our internal strength, there must be no reason to be distracted by anything else except for the defence of Ukraine,“ he added. “I don’t want anybody to be questioning Ukraine, and that’s why we have today’s decisions.”
In his nightly address, President Zelenskyy announced a “reset“ of the presidential office and confirmed that Andriy Yermak had resigned. Zelenskyy plans to consult on Saturday to appoint a new chief of staff.
Yermak’s name was absent from the Ukrainian delegation list for upcoming negotiations with the U.S., which Andrii Hnatov, Andrii Sybiha, and Rustem Umerov will now lead. Zelenskyy indicated that talks would occur “soon.”
Two national anti-corruption agencies are investigating Yermak, but his spokesperson stated that they had not served him a notice of suspicion, indicating he is not a suspect in any investigation. Yermak confirmed that his apartment and office were searched, but he was not informed of the reasons. He noted on Telegram that he is cooperating fully with the investigators.
A scandal in the energy sector
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office are investigating a $100 million scandal in the energy sector involving top officials. This issue has been widely reported in the media. It remains unclear if recent searches are linked to the case, and NABU spokesperson Anton Tatarnikov refrained from commenting due to legal restrictions.
Anastasiia Radina, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary anti-corruption committee, stated on social media that Andriy Yermak’s resignation is “better late than never.“ Mykyta Porturaev, a lawmaker from President Zelenskyy’s party, noted that the recent anti-corruption raid has heightened the country’s political crisis.
Yermak “definitely had political responsibility,“ Porturaev told The Associated Press. “Of course he had to go.”
Guillaume Mercier, a spokesperson for the European Commission, told Radio Svoboda that the Commission is closely monitoring Ukraine’s situation, noting that current investigations reflect the effectiveness of the country’s anti-corruption agencies. He stressed that fighting corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s European Union accession.
Investigators suspect Tymur Mindich, a former business partner of President Zelenskyy, is behind a recent plot. Mindich has fled the country, so any proceedings against him will be in absentia. In the wake of the scandal, two government ministers have resigned. At the same time, two of Yermak’s former deputies, Oleh Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma, left their posts after being investigated for financial misconduct. A third deputy, Andrii Smyrnov, was also investigated for bribery but remains in his position.
A challenging situation for President Zelenskyy
The scandal has created additional challenges for President Zelenskyy as he seeks to maintain Western support for Ukraine’s war effort and secure foreign funding. The European Union, which Ukraine wants to join, has urged Zelenskyy to tackle corruption. Recently, he faced backlash from lawmakers after details of the energy sector investigation emerged.
Although Yermak was not accused of wrongdoing, some lawmakers suggested he should take responsibility for restoring public trust; otherwise, the party could split, threatening Zelenskyy’s majority. However, the president chose to retain Yermak and called for unity among Ukrainians amidst U.S. pressure to negotiate with Russia.
Yermak has known Zelenskyy for over 15 years and has held key roles since Zelenskyy’s presidency began, including overseeing foreign affairs and serving as Chief of Staff from February 2020. He has been with Zelenskyy on every foreign trip since the Russian invasion and is seen as a crucial figure in selecting top government appointees.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
