Summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday removed his chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, after detectives searched his home during a sweeping corruption probe that has sent shockwaves through Kyiv’s political establishment.
The sudden decision marks one of the most consequential shake-ups of Zelensky’s inner circle since the war began and comes at a moment when Ukraine is facing both intensifying Russian attacks and unexpected diplomatic pressure from the United States.
Yermak’s dismissal represents a deeply personal blow to Zelensky, who is confronting a growing Russian offensive in the east just as Washington unveiled a surprise proposal to end the war—a plan widely viewed in Kyiv as tilted heavily in Moscow’s favour. Only a week earlier, Zelensky had chosen Yermak, 54, to serve as Ukraine’s top negotiator in critical talks meant to refine the American proposal, signalling continued trust in a figure long regarded as indispensable but divisive.
That changed abruptly on Friday when Zelensky announced in a video address, “The Office of the President of Ukraine will be reorganised. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has submitted his resignation.” Within minutes, the president signed a decree “to dismiss” Yermak.
Earlier that morning, detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) confirmed they had raided Yermak’s apartment alongside prosecutors from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. The agencies did not specify the focus of the investigation. Yermak, for his part, said he was fully cooperating. He has been linked to a $100 million kickback scheme in the strategic energy sector, an explosive allegation uncovered earlier this month that has stoked widespread public anger at a time when Russia is relentlessly targeting Ukraine’s power grid and risking severe winter outages.
Facing mounting scrutiny, Zelensky used his address to urge the country toward unity. “If we lose our unity, we risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, our future,” he said.
Yermak’s Influence
Zelensky noted that consultations on a replacement would begin Saturday. In the interim, negotiations with the United States will be handled by military leaders, diplomats, and intelligence agencies. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected in Kyiv in the coming days to discuss Washington’s latest proposal, while President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is travelling to Moscow next week for talks with Vladimir Putin.
For years, Yermak stood as Zelensky’s closest and most influential ally—sometimes even referred to as the “vice-president” due to his immense sway within the government. Critics, however, long argued that he consolidated excessive authority, controlled access to the president, and sidelined dissenting voices. A former film producer and copyright lawyer, Yermak entered politics alongside Zelensky in 2019, following years of collaboration during Zelensky’s career as a popular comedian.
A former senior official described Yermak as “super paranoid,” saying, “Yermak doesn’t allow anyone to get to Zelensky except loyal people.” Another party insider compared his influence to “hypnosis.”
The European Union reacted to the unfolding scandal by expressing support for Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies. “We have a lot of respect for those investigations which show that the anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine are doing their work,” said European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho.
The probe comes months after Zelensky attempted to strip NABU and SPO of their independence—a move that triggered rare wartime protests and criticism from the EU, eventually forcing him to reverse course.
Pressure On Zelensky
Yermak has stood beside Zelensky throughout nearly every phase of the war. The two men are known to share an extraordinarily close working relationship—reportedly even sleeping in adjacent beds in the presidential bunker during intense phases of the conflict. In their limited downtime, they were said to play table tennis, watch films, or exercise together.
Yet public opinion turned sharply against Yermak. A Razumkov Centre poll in March 2025 found that two-thirds of Ukrainians distrusted him, reflecting widespread frustration with the government’s handling of corruption and wartime governance.
Before his dismissal, political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told AFP that Yermak’s removal was necessary to strengthen Kyiv’s hand in upcoming talks with the United States. For Zelensky, the timing of the scandal—as Russia seeks to exploit any fractures—elevates the stakes dramatically.
“Russia really wants Ukraine to make mistakes,” Zelensky warned. “There will be no mistakes on our part.”
What You Should Know
Andriy Yermak’s removal marks a watershed moment in Ukraine’s wartime political landscape, severing Zelensky from his closest and most powerful adviser amid a high-profile corruption probe.
The raid, the dismissal, and the international diplomatic pressures converging at the same moment underscore both the fragility and urgency of Ukraine’s situation as Russia advances and the United States pushes a controversial peace plan.
The episode may reshape Kyiv’s strategy, leadership dynamics, and public trust at a decisive stage of the war.
