Zelenskyy’s chief of staff resigns after anti-corruption investigators search home

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his influential chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, following an anti-corruption investigation that included a search of Yermak’s residence. The departure marks a significant shift in Ukraine’s leadership structure amid critical peace negotiations with the United States.

Yermak, who has been a trusted confidant of Zelenskyy for years, stepped down as part of what the president described as a “resetting” of the presidential office. The resignation comes at a delicate time for Ukraine, as the country navigates peace talks nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

“We don’t have a right to retreat or argue between ourselves. If we lose unity, we risk losing everything — ourselves, Ukraine, our future,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. “We must unite, we must hold on. We have no other choice. We won’t have another Ukraine.”

The search of Yermak’s apartment, located within the heavily secured presidential compound in downtown Kyiv, was conducted by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. While investigators have not publicly linked Yermak to any specific wrongdoing, the raid represents an unprecedented move against one of the country’s most powerful figures.

“The investigators are facing no obstacles,” Yermak wrote on Telegram following the search, noting that he was cooperating fully with authorities and that his lawyers were present. A spokesperson for Yermak confirmed that he had not been served a notice of suspicion, meaning he was not yet considered a suspect in an investigation.

The anti-corruption raid comes amid a larger $100 million energy sector scandal that has dominated Ukrainian headlines in recent weeks. Two government ministers have already resigned in connection with the investigation, which reportedly centers on Tymur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelenskyy who has fled the country.

In reshuffling his negotiating team, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine’s delegation for upcoming talks with the United States will now be jointly led by Andrii Hnatov, head of Ukraine’s armed forces; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister; and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council. Yermak’s name was noticeably absent from this list.

The timing of Yermak’s departure is particularly significant, as it occurs during intense U.S. pressure on Ukraine to reach a peace settlement with Russia. Just a day before his resignation, Yermak had told The Atlantic magazine that Ukraine would not concede territory as part of any deal.

“As long as Zelenskyy is president, no one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory,” Yermak said in the interview. “All we can realistically talk about right now is really to define the line of contact.”

Yermak’s influence within Ukraine’s government has been substantial. Meeting Zelenskyy over 15 years ago when the future president was still a comedian and actor, Yermak rose to become what many observers describe as the president’s gatekeeper, with significant control over top government appointments.

The resignation follows weeks of internal pressure within Zelenskyy’s own political party. Earlier this month, the president faced an unprecedented rebellion from lawmakers after details of the energy sector investigation emerged. Several senior members of his party called for Yermak’s removal to restore public trust, with some threatening a party split that could endanger Zelenskyy’s parliamentary majority.

Anastasiia Radina, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary anti-corruption committee, described Yermak’s resignation as “better late than never” in a social media post. Mykyta Porturaev, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy’s party who had previously called for Yermak’s resignation, told The Associated Press that Yermak “definitely had political responsibility” and “of course he had to go.”

The European Union, which Ukraine hopes to join, is closely monitoring the situation. Guillaume Mercier, a spokesperson for the European Commission, told Radio Svoboda that the searches demonstrated that Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies were functioning properly, emphasizing that fighting corruption remains central to Ukraine’s EU accession process.

As Zelenskyy begins consultations to appoint a new chief of staff, he has urged Ukrainians to “stop the political games” and unite in the face of ongoing challenges with Russia. The president’s ability to maintain stability within his administration will be crucial as Ukraine continues to seek international support for its war effort and secure vital foreign funding.