Zelensky chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigns amid $100M probe; questions over U.S.-backed peace talks
Andriy Yermak resigned as President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff after anti‑corruption agents from NABU and SAPO searched his Kyiv apartment inside the presidential compound and reportedly his office in a probe dubbed Operation Midas — a 15‑month, roughly $100 million embezzlement investigation — with Yermak saying he has not been formally accused, is cooperating and that investigators “faced no obstacles,” while Zelensky accepted the resignation to “avoid rumors and speculation” and announced a forthcoming reshuffle. The departure casts doubt on recent U.S.–Ukraine–Europe peace talks — Yermak led Ukraine’s negotiating team in Geneva and was due to meet U.S. envoys in Miami — and officials warn the scandal could weaken Kyiv’s negotiating position even as EU and U.S. partners watch closely.
📌 Key Facts
- Ukraine’s anti‑corruption agencies NABU and SAPO searched Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak’s apartment inside the presidential compound and carried out searches related to his office on Friday; media reported the office search though investigators declined to confirm details, and Yermak had been in Geneva negotiating peace talks that weekend.
- Andriy Yermak resigned as presidential chief of staff on Friday; President Zelensky accepted the resignation in a video, saying he did so to “avoid rumors and speculation,” thanking Yermak for representing Ukraine in negotiations and pledging to reshuffle the president’s office and name a successor while urging unity.
- The actions are linked to “Operation Midas,” described as a 15‑month, $100 million embezzlement probe in the energy/nuclear sector involving about 1,000 hours of wiretaps; investigators have removed two cabinet ministers this month and other officials have been investigated, though Yermak has not been officially named as a suspect.
- Investigators suspect Tymur Mindich, a onetime business partner of Zelensky, as an alleged mastermind of the scheme; Mindich has fled Ukraine and would likely be tried in absentia if charged.
- Yermak said investigators “face no obstacles” and that he is cooperating with lawyers present; his spokesperson said he has not received a formal notice of suspicion and has not been told what the searches specifically concern.
- The probe and Yermak’s departure raise questions about U.S.‑backed diplomatic efforts: Yermak led Ukraine’s team at recent U.S.–Ukraine–Europe talks in Geneva, the peace framework discussed was pared from 28 to 19 points after Geneva, and Yermak was due to travel to Miami to meet Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner before they planned to travel to Moscow — a U.S. official warned the scandal could weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position.
- The EU is following the developments closely; an EU Commission spokesperson framed the searches as evidence Ukraine’s anti‑corruption agencies are functioning and linked that to progress on EU accession.
📊 Relevant Data
The energy sector is one of Ukraine's most corruption-vulnerable areas, ranking second in criminal proceedings between 2017 and 2019.
Anti-Corruption Review of the Energy Sector in Ukraine — OECD
Corruption in Ukraine's nuclear sector caused Energoatom losses of 4.8 billion UAH in 2020, including from public service obligations.
Anti-Corruption Review of the Energy Sector in Ukraine — OECD
Illegal activities in Ukraine's oil sector, including mini-refineries and tax evasion, caused estimated losses of over 20 billion UAH in 2021.
Anti-Corruption Review of the Energy Sector in Ukraine — OECD
Only 1.5% of corruption cases in Ukraine end up in conviction.
Only 1.5% of corruption cases in Ukraine end up in conviction -findings — Bukvy
📰 Sources (6)
- Axios reports Yermak resigned hours after anti-corruption investigators raided his home.
- Zelensky said in a video he will reshuffle the president’s office and appoint a new chief of staff in the coming days, warning against ‘losing unity.’
- Peace framework was pared from Trump’s 28 points to a new 19-point plan after Geneva talks led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which Ukrainians felt better reflected their interests.
- Yermak was due to travel to Miami this weekend for talks with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; the goal was to finalize understandings before Witkoff and Kushner travel to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin.
- A U.S. official told Axios the corruption scandal could weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position.
- NABU and SAPO stated their searches specifically targeted Yermak; his apartment inside the presidential compound in central Kyiv was searched.
- Yermak’s spokesperson Oleksii Tkachuk said Yermak has not received a notice of suspicion and has not been told what the searches concern.
- EU Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said Brussels is following closely and framed the searches as evidence Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are working, tying this to EU accession.
- Investigators suspect Tymur Mindich, a onetime business partner of Zelenskyy, as the alleged mastermind; he has fled and would likely be tried in absentia.
- Media reported Yermak’s office was also searched, though investigators declined to confirm; Yermak said investigators faced “no obstacles” and that he is cooperating with lawyers present.
- Andriy Yermak resigned as chief of staff on Friday; President Zelensky accepted the resignation in a video address.
- Zelensky said he accepted the resignation to “avoid rumors and speculation,” thanking Yermak for representing Ukraine’s position in negotiations.
- The resignation casts doubt on the latest round of U.S.–Ukraine–Europe diplomatic efforts to end the war; Yermak had led Ukraine’s team in talks with the Trump administration.
- Operation Midas is described as a 15‑month, $100 million embezzlement probe with 1,000 hours of wiretaps; Yermak has not been officially named in the investigation.
- Investigators searched Yermak’s home in Kyiv on Friday.
- WSJ specifies the home search occurred on Friday and that Yermak was in Geneva on Sunday negotiating a peace plan.
- Two cabinet ministers have already been removed this month over allegations tied to the $100 million nuclear energy corruption scheme.
- Renewed calls from lawmakers for Zelensky to remove Yermak amid the probe.
- NABU and SAPO searched Andriy Yermak’s office; Yermak confirmed his apartment was also searched.
- Yermak stated 'The investigators are facing no obstacles' and said he is cooperating with lawyers present.
- The investigation concerns a $100 million energy-sector corruption scandal involving top officials.
- Background: Two former Yermak deputies (Oleh Tatarov, Rostyslav Shurma) left government in 2024 after watchdog probes; another deputy (Andrii Smyrnov) was investigated but remains in post.
- Political fallout: Zelenskyy defied calls from senior party lawmakers to fire Yermak, urging unity amid U.S. pressure to reach a settlement with Russia.
- Recent context: Yermak was present at top-level U.S.–Ukraine peace talks in Geneva last weekend.