Kyiv — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that his chief of staff and closest adviser, Andriy Yermak, has resigned following a large-scale search of his residence by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).
Kabul 24: The 54-year-old Yermak, widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, confirmed on social media that both NABU investigators and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) were conducting “procedural actions” at his home.
He stated that he had granted full access to his apartment and that his lawyers were present during the operation.No formal charges have been brought against Yermak, and neither he nor President Zelensky has been directly accused of wrongdoing.
However, the raid comes amid a fresh wave of high-profile corruption scandals involving individuals close to the presidential circle, including overpriced weapons procurement and the misappropriation of Western humanitarian aid.Yermak has played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s wartime diplomacy.
He has been Kyiv’s lead negotiator in back-channel peace talks, the main point of contact with the United States, and a key intermediary in Zelensky’s communications with world leaders, including several phone calls with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.In recent weeks, domestic critics and some Western partners had intensified calls for Yermak’s removal, citing his vast influence and allegations of abusing power.
Political observers in Kyiv describe the resignation as the most serious internal crisis for Zelensky’s administration since the start of the full-scale war.In a brief statement, Zelensky stressed that “no one is above the law” and urged anti-corruption agencies to swiftly disclose the results of their investigation.
Opposition figures, however, called the move a damage-control exercise aimed at preserving Ukraine’s international credibility as billions of dollars in Western military and financial aid continue to flow into the country.As of now, NABU has not disclosed the exact nature of the probe, though sources familiar with the case suggest it involves allegations of large-scale bribery and abuse of office.
Yermak’s sudden departure marks a dramatic turning point for Ukraine’s leadership at a critical moment in both the war and upcoming diplomatic negotiations with the incoming U.S. administration.
