Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigns after anti-corruption raids

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had resigned following an anti-corruption raid on his home.

Yermak, 54, was Zelensky’s closest adviser during Russia’s all-out war, but has come under increasing pressure over the growing scandal, even though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Zelensky recently appointed a chief of staff to lead important negotiations, and US President Donald Trump is leading a new drive to end the war with Russia.

In his address to the nation, Zelensky called for unity and warned, “We risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, and our future.”

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies raided Yermak’s apartment in Kiev’s government building on Friday morning, and the chief of staff said on social media: “There is full cooperation on my side.”

“I thank Andriy for always presenting Ukraine’s position on the negotiating track as required. It has always been a patriotic position,” the Ukrainian president said in a video address from Kiev on Friday.

“But I hope there are no rumors or speculation. Regarding the new director, I will consult with those who can lead this agency tomorrow. Inner strength is needed when all attention is focused on diplomacy and war defense.”

Yermak’s departure from the Ukrainian leadership would be a major blow to Zelenskyy, and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to arrive in Kiev by the end of the week as part of Trump’s draft peace plan. U.S. officials head to Moscow next week.

In the hours before the raid on his apartment, Yermak had emphasized the enormous influence he had over Ukraine’s leadership, conveying his government’s position at a time when Ukraine was under pressure from the United States to make territorial concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“No one should believe that we will cede any territory as long as Zelensky is president. He will not cede any territory,” Yermak told the Atlantic website.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine hand over territory it still controls in eastern Donetsk, including several strategically important cities.

“If they do not withdraw, we will achieve this by force,” Putin said Thursday.

Yermak acknowledged in an interview that he was under “tremendous” pressure to resign, adding: “The scale of the case is quite large and requires an objective, independent investigation without political influence.”