A corruption scandal pressures Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to show greater accountability

Ukrainian President Faces Growing Pressure Amid Major Corruption Scandal

Pressure is mounting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take decisive action following revelations of a $100 million embezzlement scheme in the country’s energy sector, representing the most significant political challenge to his government since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

Last week, Zelenskyy dismissed two top officials and imposed sanctions on close associates after government investigators uncovered the corruption scheme involving kickbacks from contractors. Among those sanctioned was Tymur Mindich, a partner in a media production company that Zelenskyy co-owned before becoming president. Mindich has reportedly fled the country.

Despite these measures, the political storm continues to intensify. The timing could hardly be worse for Zelenskyy’s administration, as millions of Ukrainians regularly face power outages due to Russia’s relentless bombardment of energy infrastructure. The public outrage is palpable, with growing calls for the resignation of Andrii Yermak, Zelenskyy’s powerful chief of staff who is widely considered Ukraine’s de facto vice president.

While neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak have been implicated directly in the corruption investigation, critics argue that more senior officials must be held accountable to restore public trust. “It’s really hard to imagine that all this is happening at the behest of people from the outside without political support,” said Anastasiia Radina, head of parliament’s anti-corruption committee, in a Facebook post. She warned that by not cutting ties with Yermak, Zelenskyy is “provoking an even greater internal crisis.”

The scandal comes at a particularly sensitive time. Zelenskyy’s term officially ended in May 2024, but he has continued to govern without elections, citing the impossibility of holding them while Russia occupies a fifth of Ukrainian territory. This has added another layer of scrutiny to his administration’s actions.

Ukraine’s anti-corruption watchdogs conducted the investigation, which revealed a scheme where contractors were pressured to pay up to 15% in kickbacks to secure construction business with Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company. The investigation included over 1,000 hours of wiretaps capturing individuals using code names and cryptic language. Some conversations referenced a powerful figure operating under the alias “Ali Baba,” though this person’s identity remains unknown.

In response to the investigation, Ukraine’s parliament approved Zelenskyy’s dismissal of the energy and justice ministers. However, many political observers believe these actions don’t go far enough.

The scandal has exposed potential fractures within Zelenskyy’s own political party, which holds about two-thirds of the seats in parliament following his landslide victory in 2019. Lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the president’s party, noted that many of Zelenskyy’s allies favor Yermak’s resignation. “The faction and the parliament don’t want to bear responsibility for the corruption,” he stated.

Around 30 members of parliament from Zelenskyy’s party are reportedly campaigning to create a coalition of national stability based on unity rather than political interests and backroom deals, according to Mykyta Poturaiev, a leading lawmaker from the president’s party.

Yermak’s influence in Ukrainian politics cannot be overstated. Having met Zelenskyy over 15 years ago when the future president was still a comedian and actor, Yermak now plays a central role in managing Ukraine’s relationships with the United States and other Western allies. He has accompanied Zelenskyy on every foreign trip since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.

Domestically, officials describe Yermak as Zelenskyy’s gatekeeper, with widespread belief that he has influenced all top government appointments, including prime ministers and ministers. His power appears almost insurmountable due to the president’s unwavering trust in him.

This isn’t the first time individuals connected to Yermak and the president’s office have come under scrutiny. Two of Yermak’s former deputies left the government in 2024 following investigations into financial wrongdoing, while a third deputy remains in his position despite being investigated for bribery.

The corruption scandal threatens to undermine Ukraine’s standing with its Western allies, whose support is crucial for the war effort and future peace negotiations. Ukraine has struggled with corruption since gaining independence, and Zelenskyy was elected on a mandate to eliminate graft—making this scandal particularly damaging to his political brand.

As the pressure builds, all eyes remain on Zelenskyy to see whether he will take the more dramatic step of removing his longtime confidant and chief of staff, or continue to resist calls for greater accountability at the highest levels of his administration.