Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Zelensky, resigned on Friday after police raided his home.
“Today, NABU and SAP are indeed conducting procedural actions at my home. There are no obstacles for the investigators,” Yermak wrote on X, confirming the raid. Zelensky praised Yermak in a video statement announcing the resignation of his top aide.
Yermak has led the Ukrainian delegation in recent talks with the US aimed at reaching a deal to end the war. “I am grateful to Andriy for always representing Ukraine’s position in the negotiation track exactly as it should be. It has always been a patriotic position. But I want there to be no rumours or speculation,” Zelensky said.
He was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Miami on Sunday. Zelensky’s national security adviser, Rustem Umerov, replaced Yermak. While Zelensky said that Yermak’s potential corruption should not distract from Ukraine’s national security, some Ukrainian officials express concern that the scandal could weaken Kiev’s negotiation position.
Axios described Yermak’s resignation as a “political earthquake.” One Ukrainian official told the outlet, “This is the perfect storm. There is a lot of uncertainty right now.”
The investigation into Yermak follows charges against several other top Ukrainian officials. A former business partner of Zelensky was accused of running a $100 million scheme that led to the resignations of Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers. The money was stolen from funds meant to improve Ukraine’s energy grid.
