• Anti-corruption agents search chief of staff’s home in early morning operation
• Resignation comes one day before scheduled Miami peace talks with Trump team
• $100 million Energoatom scandal has already toppled two cabinet ministers

KYIV, Ukraine (TDR) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that his powerful chief of staff Andriy Yermak has resigned, just hours after anti-corruption investigators raided his home inside the presidential compound. The departure creates a leadership vacuum at the worst possible moment for Kyiv.

Yermak Resigns Amid Peace Negotiations

The resignation marks a political earthquake in the war-torn nation. Yermak had served as Ukraine’s lead negotiator in peace talks with the United States and was scheduled to travel to Miami on Saturday for crucial discussions with the Trump administration.

“Russia really wants Ukraine to make mistakes. There will be no mistakes on our side.”

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Zelenskyy delivered those words in a video address announcing the resignation. He said consultations for a replacement would begin Saturday and promised a complete reorganization of the Presidential Office.

Search Targets Ukraine’s Second Most Powerful Figure

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office conducted the early morning search. Yermak confirmed investigators entered his apartment and said he was cooperating fully. His spokesperson noted that Yermak received no formal notice of suspicion, meaning he was not named as a suspect.

The raid connects to a $100 million kickback scheme involving state nuclear company Energoatom. Investigators allege contractors paid bribes of 10-15 percent to maintain their supplier status.

Scandal Claims Multiple Senior Officials

The probe has already claimed Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, who resigned earlier this month. Investigators identified businessman Tymur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelenskyy from his entertainment days, as the alleged mastermind. Mindich has fled the country.

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Two of Yermak’s former deputies left the government in 2024 amid separate corruption investigations. The expanding scandal threatens Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations, which depend heavily on anti-graft reforms.

EU Praises Anti-Corruption Efforts

The European Commission responded positively to the developments. Spokesperson Paula Pinho said the searches demonstrate that Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies are functioning properly. Fighting corruption remains central to Ukraine’s EU accession process, with Brussels urging Kyiv to reverse recent negative trends.

Yermak, 54, had been considered Ukraine’s second most powerful figure since joining Zelenskyy’s team in 2019. He accompanied the president on every foreign trip since Russia’s invasion and reportedly controlled all top government appointments.

Can Zelenskyy maintain Ukraine’s negotiating position without his closest ally at the table?

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