Andriy Yermak has resigned as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, a move that follows an anti-corruption raid on his home and comes amid growing scrutiny of his actions.

Yermak, 54, who has served as Zelensky's closest advisor throughout the war in Ukraine, has faced mounting pressure amid a growing scandal.

The corruption scandal, which has shaken Ukraine for weeks, has undermined Zelensky's own standing and threatened the country's negotiating position with the US at a particularly sensitive moment. 

Early on Friday, Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies conducted a raid on Yermak's apartment in Kiev's government quarters, and the chief of staff stated on social media that he was offering full cooperation from his side.

Consultations on Yermak's successor set for Saturday

"I'm grateful to Andriy that Ukraine's position on the negotiating track was always presented as required: it was always a patriotic position," Ukraine's president said during his video address in Kiev on Friday, adding that he would begin consultations on Saturday to choose Yermak's successor as his top advisor.

"Russia wants Ukraine to make mistakes – there won't be any mistakes from our side. Our work continues, our fight continues. We have no right... to retreat, to quarrel [among ourselves]," Zelensky added.

Yermak acknowledged in an interview for The Atlantic that he was under "enormous" pressure to step down, adding that "the case is fairly loud, and there needs to be an objective and independent investigation without political influence."

Scandal at hand

Just days before the public learned about the resignation of Andriy Yermak, investigators from the National Anti‑Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti‑Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) revealed a sweeping bribery and kickback scheme at Enerhoatom, the state‑run nuclear energy company that supplies much of Ukraine’s electricity.

The scheme allegedly involved demanding illicit payments of 10–15% from contractors in exchange for access to state energy contracts and continued business relations.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Midas, spanned 15 months, during which authorities conducted more than 70 searches, gathered around 1,000 hours of wiretap recordings, and seized several million US dollars. As a result of the probe, seven individuals have been formally charged, including former senior officials within Enerhoatom and individuals tied to high‑level government circles.

Among the alleged masterminds is Timur Mindich, a businessman with longstanding connections to the presidential inner circle. Mindich reportedly orchestrated the network that enforced kickback payments and controlled back‑office operations, funneling illicit funds.

The scandal also touched top government figures: ministers have been dismissed, and the supervisory board of Enerhoatom was fired, signalling a sweeping attempt to clean up the energy sector and restore credibility.