Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration was rocked again Friday as his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned following a raid on his home by anti-corruption officials. The resignation marks the latest upheaval in a growing embezzlement scandal that has cast a shadow over Ukraine’s government at a sensitive moment in its negotiations with Russia.
Zelensky announced Yermak’s departure during his daily televised address, acknowledging the senior aide’s involvement in leading Ukraine’s delegation during recent talks in Geneva with Washington. But Zelensky said the turmoil now gripping the administration demanded decisive internal changes.
“I want no one to have any questions about Ukraine today,” Zelensky said as he disclosed Yermak’s resignation letter. “There will be a reboot of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has written a letter of resignation. I am grateful to Andriy for always representing Ukraine’s position in the negotiation track exactly as it should be represented.”
Yermak did not issue a formal statement immediately after the announcement but confirmed that anti-corruption investigators had raided his residence. On Telegram, he stressed that he was “fully cooperating,” adding that investigators had “full access to the apartment,” and that his attorneys were present and working directly with law enforcement.
His abrupt resignation comes amid Operation Midas, a far-reaching 15-month investigation into an alleged kickback scheme involving Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The probe is being jointly led by Ukraine’s primary anti-corruption agencies and has already resulted in the removal of several high-level figures in Zelensky’s orbit, including two government ministers and one of Zelensky’s former business partners.
Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak — who provided information to the Operation Midas investigators — openly stated that Yermak was part of the broader investigation and urged his removal. Members of both the opposition and Zelensky’s own party also signaled they would consider supporting a possible vote of no confidence.
The leadership shakeup adds another layer of difficulty for Zelensky at a moment when international scrutiny of his government is intensifying. Ukraine agreed on Tuesday to a peace deal with Russia that was brokered by the United States, but Zelensky has already cautioned that “much work still lies ahead.” The departure of one of his most influential advisors is likely to complicate the already delicate process.
Yermak, long considered Zelensky’s puppetmaster, played a key role in navigating Ukraine’s relationship with Western nations. His resignation under the cloud of an anti-corruption raid now raises uncomfortable questions about the stability and transparency of the Ukrainian government — issues that critics argue have plagued Kyiv for years.
As Operation Midas continues sweeping through the highest levels of Ukrainian leadership, the scandal underscores ongoing concerns about corruption inside the country’s institutions. For Zelensky, already managing a tense diplomatic landscape, the resignation threatens to add new political turbulence at a moment when Ukraine can least afford it.
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