Zelensky Dismisses Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak Following Anti-Corruption Investigation Amid Critical US-Russia Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday the dismissal of his influential chief of staff Andriy Yermak following anti-corruption raids at his residence.

Zelensky confirmed in a video address that "The Office of the President of Ukraine will be reorganised. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has submitted his resignation." Shortly thereafter, Zelensky signed an official decree removing Yermak from his position.

The removal comes after investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) conducted a raid at Yermak's apartment as part of an ongoing investigation. While authorities did not specify details of the probe, Yermak has been implicated in allegations regarding a $100-million kickback scheme in Ukraine's energy sector discovered earlier this month.

This development represents a significant setback for Zelensky, who is simultaneously dealing with an intensifying Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine and navigating complex negotiations after the United States proposed a controversial peace plan that analysts say heavily favors Moscow.

Only last week, Zelensky had appointed Yermak, 54, as Ukraine's chief negotiator for refining the US proposal, demonstrating his confidence despite mounting pressure from opposition to dismiss his controversial chief of staff.

In his address, Zelensky emphasized national unity: "If we lose our unity, we risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, our future."

The president indicated he would hold consultations on Saturday regarding Yermak's replacement. In the interim, negotiations with the United States will be managed by military officials, diplomats, and intelligence services.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to arrive in Kyiv soon to discuss the peace proposal, while President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week.

Yermak, a former film producer and copyright lawyer who joined Zelensky's team in 2019, was widely considered the second-most powerful figure in Ukraine, sometimes informally referred to as "vice-president."

Critics have long accused him of consolidating power, controlling access to the president, and marginalizing dissenting voices. A former senior official who worked with both men told AFP that Yermak was "super paranoid" and "doesn't allow anyone to get to Zelensky except loyal people." A senior source in Zelensky's party described Yermak's influence over the president as akin to "hypnosis."

Following the raid on Yermak's residence, the European Union expressed support for Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho stated, "We have a lot of respect for those investigations which show that the anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine are doing their work."

This investigation follows earlier controversy when Zelensky attempted to reduce the independence of anti-corruption agencies NABU and SPO in the summer, triggering rare wartime protests and forcing him to reverse course after EU criticism.

Despite being Zelensky's close confidant throughout the war—reportedly sharing bunker space in the presidential office and spending free time together playing table tennis, watching movies, or exercising—Yermak remained deeply unpopular among Ukrainians, with a March 2025 poll by the Razumkov Centre showing two-thirds of the population distrusted him.

Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko had previously suggested that removing Yermak would strengthen Kyiv's position in negotiations with the United States.

Acknowledging the delicate timing of this leadership change, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine could not afford political missteps: "Russia really wants Ukraine to make mistakes. There will be no mistakes on our part."