Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday accepted the resignation of his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, hours after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak’s home and office as part of a major probe into alleged embezzlement at the state nuclear company Energoatom.
NABU and SAPO, Ukraine’s top anti-corruption bodies, said the searches were part of a 15-month investigation that has already produced eight suspects and includes extensive audio recordings. Officials describe it as the largest corruption case since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky said he wanted to “avoid rumours and speculation” and stressed that wartime Ukraine must show “internal strength” and maintain the confidence of international partners. He announced a wholesale restructuring of the presidential office and plans to consult immediately on a new chief of staff.
Yermak wrote on Telegram that he was “fully cooperating” with investigators and had granted them full access to his property.
His departure marks a significant shift in Kyiv’s political landscape. Yermak, a former lawyer and film producer, had become one of the most influential figures in the administration and was widely regarded by Ukrainian commentators as the president’s most powerful aide. Opposition politicians have long criticised his centralised role in government, and analysts say his exit may intensify calls for a national unity government as Ukraine enters a new phase of negotiations with the Trump administration.
Zelensky said responsibilities for upcoming U.S. talks would be reassigned to senior military, diplomatic and security officials, underscoring the administration’s effort to insulate foreign policy from domestic controversy.
The anti-corruption probe has fuelled speculation in Kyiv, as NABU and SAPO have not yet released all evidence gathered in the Energoatom case. Several civil-society groups and some of Zelensky’s own allies had recently urged him to remove Yermak to protect institutional credibility.
Whether the shake-up leads to broader political change remains unclear. Some opposition lawmakers welcomed the resignation as a sign of “zero tolerance for corruption,” while others questioned whether Zelensky would shift to a more inclusive governing style.
