Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed his closest adviser, Andriy Yermak, marking one of the most consequential shake-ups in his administration since taking office six and a half years ago.
Yermak, long considered Zelenskyy’s right-hand man and one of the most influential figures in Kyiv, resigned on Friday after anti-corruption investigators raided his home as part of an expanding probe into alleged kickbacks in the energy sector.
The departure, while popular domestically, arrives at a sensitive diplomatic moment. Just days earlier, Yermak had led Ukraine’s delegation in Geneva for talks with U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Washington’s latest peace proposal, which many analysts say heavily favors Russia.
His abrupt exit now forces Zelenskyy to restructure his negotiating team at a crucial stage of wartime diplomacy.
Announcing the dismissal, Zelenskyy praised Yermak for “always representing Ukraine’s position in exactly the right way” and stressed his loyalty. But the president now faces a dual test: reassuring international partners that Kyiv remains stable, and convincing Ukrainians that his administration is serious about cleaning up corruption.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and Head of the Office of the Presidency of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (left) during a meeting at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid on November 18.
Oscar Del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images
Yermak had become one of the most unpopular officials in the country. Critics accused him of centralizing vast power inside the Presidential Office and influencing key government appointments behind the scenes.
Journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk described him as the figure who “aggregated all the dissatisfaction with what the president does wrong.”
His fall is expected to be well-received by many Ukrainians, especially amid a series of corruption scandals, tensions with former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and criticism of new mobilisation policies. Analysts say Zelensky may temporarily strengthen his standing by framing the dismissal as a clean break.
However, questions linger about what Zelenskyy knew. A former government official told CNN that many Ukrainians will wonder how his closest ally, and former business partner, could have acted without the president’s knowledge. The scandal also implicates Timur Mindich, another long-time associate.
Although Yermak was central to Kyiv’s foreign outreach throughout the war, his reputation abroad had diminished. A major corruption probe further eroded confidence, especially in the United States Congress, where concerns about misuse of aid have already complicated support for Ukraine.
European diplomats say Zelenskyy had “little choice” but to remove him to protect Ukraine’s standing. But the timing is awkward. Yermak had been scheduled to travel to Washington this weekend to lead critical talks with the Trump administration. It remains unclear who will now take over that role.
The confusion has fueled Russian attempts to portray Ukraine as unstable. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the scandal was creating “political uncertainty” in Kyiv.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk also issued a stark warning, calling the combined turbulence in Kyiv, Washington, and Europe a “fatal combination.”
Zelenskyy must now weigh the immediate disruption against the long-term goal of restoring public trust.
Analysts note that while Yermak’s removal exposes vulnerabilities at the top of the Ukrainian government, it also demonstrates that anti-corruption institutions, strengthened in recent years—can still operate independently even during wartime.
Whether the move ultimately weakens or strengthens the president will depend on his next steps: choosing a new chief negotiator, stabilizing his administration, and navigating a diplomatic landscape that is becoming more challenging by the week.
Source: CNN
Written By Rodney Mbua
