Zelensky's Top Aide Resigns Amid Widening Corruption Scandal

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/world/europe/zelensky-yermak-resigns-ukraine-corruption-scandal.html

Zelensky’s Top Aide Resigns Amid Widening Corruption Scandal
Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff and top peace negotiator, became the highest-ranking casualty of an investigation into a vast kickback scheme.
By Kim Barker and Andrew E. Kramer
Nov. 28, 2025 Updated 10:54 a.m. ET

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, resigned on Friday in the highest-level political realignment in Ukraine since Russia’s all-out invasion nearly four years ago.

The departure of Mr. Yermak, who had headed Ukraine’s negotiating team in peace talks with the Trump administration, also put in doubt the future of the latest round of diplomatic efforts by the United States, Ukraine and European nations to end the war.

Mr. Yermak stepped down amid a spiraling, $100 million embezzlement scandal that has already led to the dismissal of two cabinet ministers and even threatened to topple Mr. Zelensky’s entire cabinet.

Mr. Yermak, 54, is the highest-level official to lose his job in the fallout from the 15-month investigation called Operation Midas, revealed by Ukraine’s top anti-corruption agencies, which said the effort had produced 1,000 hours of wiretaps.

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https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-yermak-corruption-3a58193bcb3f7816a715dee9e60e4541

Zelenskyy’s chief of staff resigns as Ukraine corruption investigations widen
By ILLIA NOVIKOV and ISOBEL KOSHIW
Updated 10:40 AM CST, November 28, 2025

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the U.S, after Yermak’s residence was searched by anti-corruption investigators.

The unprecedented search at the heart of Ukraine’s government comes at a time when Kyiv is under intense U.S. pressure to sign a peace deal nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Yermak has been a trusted confidant of Zelenskyy’s for years, and the Ukrainian leader has long resisted pressure to replace him. His departure is a blow for the Ukrainian leader that risks disrupting his negotiating strategy.

In a nod to likely controversy over Yermak’s long stay at his side, Zelenskyy’s said Russia was waiting for Ukraine to make missteps and upset the delicate and tense peace negotiations.

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