Andrii Yermak, the powerful chief of staff long considered President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “gatekeeper,” resigned Friday mere hours after anti-corruption investigators raided his residence inside the presidential compound.
The departure shakes the foundation of Zelenskyy’s inner circle at a critical juncture. Yermak has served as Ukraine’s primary negotiator in peace talks with both Russia and the United States, a role that has become increasingly vital as Washington ramps up pressure on Kyiv to finalize a peace deal nearly four years into the war.
Two national agencies dedicated to fighting entrenched corruption confirmed the searches targeted Yermak. According to his spokesperson, Oleksii Tkachuk, investigators did not serve a notice of suspicion, meaning Yermak is not currently a formal suspect.
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“The investigators are facing no obstacles,” Yermak posted on Telegram, noting that his lawyers were present and he was cooperating fully.
The raids come amid a domestic firestorm regarding a $100 million corruption scandal in the energy sector. While investigators have not publicly linked Friday’s searches to that specific case, the scandal has already implicated former business partners of the president and forced the resignation of two government ministers.
Yermak’s resignation follows weeks of internal rebellion. Senior lawmakers within Zelenskyy’s own party had urged the president to fire his longtime confidante to restore public trust, warning that the administration’s parliamentary majority was at risk. Until Friday, Zelenskyy had defied those calls, urging unity against “political games.”
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European officials are watching closely. A spokesperson for the European Commission noted that the searches demonstrate Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are operational—a key metric as the nation pushes for European Union accession.
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