In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Kyiv and far beyond, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resignation of his influential chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, on November 28, 2025. The announcement came just hours after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak’s apartment, an unprecedented move that has intensified scrutiny on Ukraine’s highest echelons of power and fueled a political crisis at a time when the country faces mounting pressure both at home and abroad.
The search took place early Friday morning at Yermak’s residence inside the heavily guarded presidential compound in Kyiv. According to AP News, Yermak was not served a notice of suspicion and is not officially a suspect in any investigation. Nevertheless, he confirmed the search and emphasized his cooperation: “There are no obstacles for the investigators. They have been given full access to the apartment, and my lawyers are present on-site, cooperating with the law enforcement officers. From my side, there is full cooperation,” Yermak wrote on social media. His office, too, was reportedly searched, though investigators declined to comment on that detail.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office authorized the search, linking it to an ongoing investigation. Earlier this month, these agencies had unveiled a sweeping probe into an alleged $100 million kickback scheme at the state atomic energy company, Energoatom, which supplies more than half of Ukraine’s electricity. The investigation has already ensnared former senior officials and an ex-business partner of Zelenskyy, Tymur Mindich, believed by investigators to be the mastermind. Mindich has since fled the country, with any criminal proceedings expected to occur in absentia. Two government ministers have already resigned over the scandal, and two of Yermak’s former deputies left the government in 2024 after separate financial wrongdoing investigations. A third deputy remains under investigation but continues to serve.
While it remains unclear whether the search of Yermak’s apartment is directly related to the Energoatom scandal, the timing could hardly be more sensitive. As Al Jazeera reported, Yermak had been leading Ukraine’s team in negotiations over a United States-proposed peace plan to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. The plan, initially backed by the Trump administration, has stirred controversy in Kyiv and among European allies, especially over provisions that could require Ukraine to cede territory or limit its military—a prospect fiercely opposed by many Ukrainians. Zelenskyy has faced pressure from both the U.S. and opposition parties at home, with the opposition European Solidarity party recently calling for Yermak’s removal from the negotiating team and demanding “an honest dialogue” with other parties.
In a measured yet urgent video address Friday evening, Zelenskyy sought to project calm and unity, stating, “Russia very much wants Ukraine to make mistakes. There will be no mistakes on our part. Our work continues.” He announced the “resetting” of the presidential office and confirmed that Yermak had submitted his resignation. “To preserve our internal strength, there must be no reasons to be distracted at anything else except for defense of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “I don’t want anybody to be questioning Ukraine, and that’s why we have today’s decisions.” He added that consultations to appoint a new chief of staff would begin on Saturday, November 29.
Yermak’s name was notably absent from the list of officials set to represent Ukraine in upcoming negotiations with the United States. Instead, the delegation will be jointly led by Andrii Hnatov, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister; and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council. The talks, which are expected to happen soon, come at a moment when Russian forces are making advances along the front lines, with Moscow claiming its troops are close to capturing the eastern city of Pokrovsk—a potential turning point in the conflict.
Yermak’s departure marks the end of a significant era in Zelenskyy’s administration. A former film producer and copyright lawyer, Yermak first met Zelenskyy over 15 years ago, when the latter was still a celebrated comedian and actor. Their partnership deepened as Yermak helped guide Zelenskyy’s successful 2019 presidential campaign, and he was promoted to chief of staff in February 2020. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Yermak has been at Zelenskyy’s side on every trip abroad, acting as gatekeeper and chief negotiator, and earning a reputation as the “vice president” of Ukraine. Domestically, he was widely seen as one of the most powerful figures in the country, responsible for key government appointments and shaping Ukraine’s wartime strategy.
Yet his influence also made him a lightning rod for criticism. Opposition lawmakers and even some members of Zelenskyy’s own party had called for Yermak’s dismissal, arguing that his continued presence risked undermining public trust and government unity. Mykyta Porturaev, a lawmaker from Zelenskyy’s party, told AP News, “Yermak definitely had political responsibility. Of course he had to go.” Anastasiia Radina, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary anti-corruption committee, echoed this sentiment, saying Yermak’s resignation was “better late than never.” The European Commission, meanwhile, stressed that fighting corruption remains central to Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership, with spokesperson Guillaume Mercier noting that the searches showed anti-corruption agencies were “working” and that Brussels would “continue to follow the situation closely.”
The political stakes could not be higher. Zelenskyy is striving to maintain Western support for Ukraine’s war effort while also navigating domestic demands for reform and transparency. The European Union has made clear that meaningful progress on anti-corruption is a prerequisite for Ukraine’s accession—a goal seen by many in Kyiv as vital for breaking free from Russia’s sphere of influence. The current crisis comes on the heels of a brief but intense rebellion within Zelenskyy’s own party, sparked by revelations from the anti-corruption probe into the energy sector. Some lawmakers warned that failure to act could split the party and threaten Zelenskyy’s parliamentary majority.
Despite the turmoil, Zelenskyy has remained resolute in his refusal to concede Ukrainian territory in any peace deal. In an interview with The Atlantic just before his resignation, Yermak insisted, “No one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory.” Instead, he said the only realistic topic for negotiation was the current line of contact between Ukrainian and Russian-controlled areas.
As Ukraine prepares for a new round of critical negotiations and braces for further revelations from the ongoing anti-corruption investigations, the departure of Andrii Yermak signals both the volatility and the resilience of Ukrainian politics during wartime. The coming days will test whether Zelenskyy’s government can maintain unity and public trust while steering the country through one of its most challenging chapters yet.
