KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s closest wartime adviser and chief negotiator, Andriy Yermak, has resigned following an anti-corruption raid on his Kyiv apartment.
The departure of the powerful Chief of Staff comes at a critical time, severely complicating Ukraine’s position amid a new push by US President Donald Trump to broker an end to the nearly four-year war with Russia.
Yermak, 54, had been Zelenskyy’s indispensable right hand throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, but his position had become increasingly fragile due to an escalating, high-level corruption scandal, even though he has not been personally accused of wrongdoing.
Zelenskyy’s warning: “We risk losing everything”
In a somber video address outside his presidential office, President Zelenskyy announced the resignation and issued a stark warning to the nation, urging unity:
“We risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, our future.”
The President said he would begin consultations on Saturday to find a replacement, stating that the move was necessary to ensure focus remains solely on the defense of the nation.
“When all the attention is focused on diplomacy and the defence in a war, inner strength is required.”
Zelenskyy warned against internal division, implying Russia aims to exploit the political upheaval:
“Russia wants Ukraine to make mistakes – there won’t be any mistakes from our side. Our work continues, our fight continues. We have no right… to retreat, to quarrel [among ourselves].”
Raid and cooperation
The announcement was made hours after the nation’s two primary anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), raided Yermak’s residence in Kyiv’s government quarter.
Yermak quickly confirmed the raid on social media and pledged full transparency:
“… from my side there is full co-operation”
Despite the surrounding controversy, President Zelenskyy offered praise for his now-former aide’s diplomatic work:
“I’m grateful to Andriy that Ukraine’s position on the negotiating track was always presented as required: it was always a patriotic position,”
Territorial concessions and Putin’s demand
Yermak’s departure will be a major blow for Zelenskyy as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is due to arrive in Kyiv this week as part of the Trump administration’s draft peace plan, which Ukraine and its European allies have been attempting to amend.
Just hours before the raid, Yermak had forcefully articulated Ukraine’s hardline stance on territorial integrity during an interview:
“As long as Zelensky is president, no-one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory.”
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The timing is particularly challenging given the demands from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that the fighting would only end when Ukrainian troops withdrew from the entire eastern Donbas region.
“If they don’t withdraw, we’ll achieve this by force of arms,” Putin said.
The wider scandal
The pressure on Yermak stemmed from a weeks-long corruption scandal involving an alleged $100 million (£75 million) embezzlement scheme in the energy sector, which investigators have linked to kickbacks and state-owned companies like the nuclear energy firm Enerhoatom.
Yermak, a former lawyer and film producer who became close friends with Zelenskyy 14 years ago, admitted the situation required an immediate, objective response:
“the case is fairly loud, and there needs to be an objective and independent investigation without political influence”
The scandal has already resulted in the firing of two ministers and the flight of a close former business associate of the president, Timur Mindich. Ukraine’s European Union allies have also expressed alarm, with a recent report highlighting doubts over the country’s “commitment to its anti-corruption agenda.”
