Ukraine’s political landscape was rocked this week as Andriy Yermak, the influential chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, resigned following an intensive anti-corruption investigation that saw his home and office searched by authorities. The move came amid a sweeping scandal involving an alleged $100 million embezzlement scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector, a controversy that has cast a shadow over Zelensky’s administration and threatened to undermine Kyiv’s position in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia and the United States.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) confirmed on November 28, 2025, that it had carried out authorized searches at Yermak’s apartment as part of a probe into corruption at the highest levels of government. The searches were conducted jointly with the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor’s office (SAP), and, according to Yermak, his lawyers were present and he was fully cooperating with investigators. "From my side, there is full co-operation," Yermak stated on social media, emphasizing his willingness to assist the inquiry. Notably, neither Yermak nor President Zelensky have been formally accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
The scandal, however, has engulfed several figures close to the president, including a former business associate who has since fled the country. Investigators allege that a complex kickback scheme siphoned funds from state-owned enterprises, including the nuclear energy giant Enerhoatom, at a time when Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been battered by relentless Russian attacks. As a result, many Ukrainians have been forced to endure only a few hours of electricity each day, fueling public outrage as allegations surfaced that vital funds meant for safeguarding the country’s power supply were diverted.
Yermak, 54, has been a central figure in Ukraine’s wartime government, serving as Zelensky’s closest adviser and Kyiv’s lead negotiator in peace talks with the United States. But as the scandal unfolded, pressure mounted for him to step aside. Recent polling suggests that 70% of Ukrainians wanted him to resign, citing both his perceived outsized influence as an unelected official and the growing cloud of corruption allegations. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum, including members of Zelensky’s own party, joined the chorus calling for his departure.
In an emotional interview with the New York Post following his resignation on November 29, 2025, Yermak declared, "I'm going to the front and I'm ready for any reprisal. I'm an honest and decent person." He added, "My dignity has not been protected, even though I have been in Kyiv since February 24, 2022. Therefore, I don't want to cause problems for Zelensky; I'm going to the front." Expressing his frustration, Yermak said he was "disgusted" by the accusations leveled against him and "even more disgusted by the lack of support from those who know the truth."
The timing of the scandal and Yermak’s resignation could not be more sensitive for Ukraine. The country is in the midst of delicate negotiations with the United States over a draft peace plan, with US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll scheduled to arrive in Kyiv by the end of the week. According to Axios, Yermak was set to travel to Miami on November 30, 2025, to meet with members of President Donald Trump’s team, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The purpose of the talks was to finalize a US-Ukraine agreement before Witkoff and Kushner’s planned visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Yermak’s role as Kyiv’s lead negotiator had already come under scrutiny, with critics questioning whether his continued presence would strengthen or weaken Ukraine’s bargaining position. In an interview with The Atlantic just hours before news of the searches broke, Yermak underscored his commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, stating, "As long as Zelensky is president, no-one should count on us giving up territory. He will not sign away territory."
Yet, the scandal has reverberated far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Russian officials have seized on the corruption claims to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Zelensky’s government and its commitment to reform, a narrative that has found some traction among European Union allies. Ukraine’s bid to join the EU has faced renewed scrutiny, with a recent report highlighting concerns about the country’s anti-corruption agenda. Domestically, the investigation has been welcomed as a necessary step toward accountability, but internationally, it has raised alarm bells about Ukraine’s stability and negotiating leverage at a critical juncture.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, emboldened by recent territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, has issued fresh threats, stating on November 27, 2025, that if Ukraine does not withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region, Russia will "achieve this by force of arms." Putin also claimed that his forces’ offensive was "practically impossible to hold back," a message clearly intended to project Russian strength and sow doubt about Ukraine’s prospects.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has moved to contain the fallout from the scandal, firing two ministers and overseeing the detention of several suspects implicated in the embezzlement scheme. The president’s former business associate, Timur Mindich, co-owner of the TV studio where Zelensky launched his acting career, has reportedly fled the country. Despite these actions, the scandal has left Zelensky’s government on the defensive, struggling to reassure both the Ukrainian public and international partners of its resolve to root out corruption.
For Yermak, the personal and political toll has been immense. In his interview with The Atlantic, he acknowledged, "The pressure on me to stand down is enormous... The case is fairly loud, and there needs to be an objective and independent investigation without political influence." The investigation into the energy sector bribery scandal continues, with authorities pledging to pursue all leads and hold those responsible to account, regardless of their position or connections.
As Ukraine faces one of its most challenging periods since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the fate of its leadership and its path toward peace remain fraught with uncertainty. The resignation of Yermak, a man once seen as indispensable to Zelensky’s administration, marks a dramatic turn in the country’s ongoing struggle to balance wartime resilience with the demands of transparency and reform.
In the end, the anti-corruption drive—however painful—may prove essential to Ukraine’s future, both at home and on the world stage.
