Zelensky removes Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak amid corruption probe

Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed his influential chief of staff and top negotiator, Andriy Yermak, following a raid on his apartment by investigators as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe.

Yermak’s exit represents a significant setback for Zelensky, who is already grappling with a mounting Russian offensive in the east and navigating a surprise US plan to end the war, which heavily favours Moscow.

Why was Yermak removed?

Just last week, Zelensky had reaffirmed his trust in Yermak, 54, by appointing him Ukraine’s chief negotiator in discussions to refine the US peace plan. The appointment came amid growing calls from opposition figures to remove the polarising chief of staff.

On Friday, 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." Minutes later, he signed a decree formally dismissing Yermak.

Earlier the same morning, the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office raided Yermak’s apartment. Officials did not disclose details of the probe, but Yermak said he was fully cooperating.

He faces allegations of involvement in a $100-million kickback scheme in Ukraine’s strategic energy sector, a case that came to light earlier this month and sparked public outrage amid Russia’s ongoing attacks on the country’s power grid.

How is Zelensky responding?

In response to the scandal, Zelensky sought to maintain national unity. "If we lose our unity, we risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, our future," he said.

Zelensky stated he would consult on a replacement on Saturday. Meanwhile, negotiations with the United States will be led by military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is scheduled to visit Kyiv soon, while former President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Moscow next week for talks with Vladimir Putin.

What was Yermak’s influence?

Yermak was regarded as Zelensky’s closest ally but a divisive figure within Kyiv. Critics accused him of centralising power, controlling access to the president, and sidelining dissenting voices.

A former senior official described him as "super paranoid," saying, "Yermak doesn’t allow anyone to get to Zelensky except loyal people. He definitely tries to influence almost every decision."

A senior source from Zelensky’s party likened his sway over the president to "hypnosis."

What does the EU say?

Following the raid, the European Union expressed support for Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. "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.

Earlier this year, Zelensky had attempted to curb the independence of NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, prompting rare wartime protests and forcing him to reverse the decision after EU criticism.

Yermak had been a constant presence alongside Zelensky throughout the war. The two were frequently seen together at official events, and media reports noted they share the same quarters in the presidential bunker, spending downtime playing table tennis, watching films, or exercising.

Despite this, Yermak remained widely unpopular, with a March 2025 poll by the Razumkov Centre showing that two-thirds of the population distrusted him.

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told AFP prior to Yermak’s removal that his departure was necessary to strengthen Kyiv’s negotiating position with the United States.

Zelensky also warned of the stakes: "Russia really wants Ukraine to make mistakes. There will be no mistakes on our part."

AFP inputs