Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has resigned following an anti-corruption raid on his home.
Yermak, 54, has been Zelensky’s closest adviser throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, but he had recently come under mounting pressure amid an escalating corruption scandal, despite not being accused of any wrongdoing.
The resignation comes at a sensitive time, as Zelensky had recently appointed Yermak to lead critical negotiations, with U.S. President Donald Trump spearheading a new effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
In a national address outside his presidential office, Zelensky called for unity, warning: “We risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, our future.”
The scandal has shaken Ukraine over the past weeks, weakening Zelensky’s political standing and threatening the country’s negotiating position with the U.S. at a pivotal moment. Ukraine, backed by European allies, has sought to revise a U.S.-led draft peace plan that was initially seen as favoring Russia.
Early on Friday, Ukraine’s two anti-corruption agencies raided Yermak’s Kyiv apartment in the government quarters. On social media, Yermak affirmed his full cooperation with investigators, stating: “From my side, there is full co-operation.”
During his address, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Yermak’s service, saying: “I’m grateful to Andriy that Ukraine’s position on the negotiating track was always presented as required: it was always a patriotic position.”
He added that consultations on a replacement would begin on Saturday, noting: “When all the attention is focused on diplomacy and defence in a war, inner strength is required. Russia wants Ukraine to make mistakes – there won’t be any mistakes from our side. Our work continues, our fight continues. We have no right… to retreat, to quarrel [among ourselves].”
Yermak’s departure is seen as a major setback for Zelensky, particularly as U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is scheduled to arrive in Kyiv later this week as part of Trump’s peace plan initiative. U.S. officials are set to travel to Moscow next week, and Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed a Hungarian proposal to host a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Putin has maintained a hardline stance, insisting that the war will only end if Ukrainian forces withdraw from the entire eastern Donbas region, including strategically important cities under Ukrainian control. He warned: “If they don’t withdraw, we’ll achieve this by force of arms.”
Hours before the raid, Yermak defended Ukraine’s position under pressure from the U.S. to consider territorial concessions. “As long as Zelensky is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory,” Yermak told The Atlantic. He acknowledged the intense pressure to resign and emphasised the need for an independent, unbiased investigation.
Investigators have linked several high-profile figures to an alleged $100 million embezzlement scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) reported uncovering a widespread scheme involving kickbacks and manipulation of state-owned companies, including the nuclear energy firm Enerhoatom.
Russian officials involved in Trump’s peace initiative have highlighted the corruption allegations, raising concerns among European Union allies. Ukraine, a candidate for EU membership, has faced scrutiny over its commitment to anti-corruption reforms.
In response to the scandal, Zelensky has already dismissed two ministers, and several suspects have been detained. Timur Mindich, a former business associate and co-owner of the TV studio Kvartal 95 where Zelensky’s acting career began, has fled the country.
Public and political pressure on Yermak had been mounting in recent weeks. His popularity plummeted, and MPs from multiple parties, including his own, called for his dismissal, initially criticising the concentration of power in an unelected official and later citing the corruption scandal. Recent polls indicated that 70% of Ukrainians wanted him to resign.
Zelensky and Yermak’s partnership spans 14 years, dating back to Zelensky’s media executive days when Yermak worked as his lawyer. Yermak became chief of staff a year after Zelensky’s 2019 election. The two appeared together on the first night of Russia’s invasion, delivering a defiant video message outside the presidential office in Kyiv, pledging to stay and fight.
