Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies conducted [1] searches at both the office and residence of Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, as part of an expanding investigation into alleged misconduct inside the country’s energy sector.
BREAKING: Ukrainian President Zelensky’s Chief of Staff just RESIGNED after anti-corruption units RAIDED his house.
Andriy Yermak is out.
WOW
Parts of Zelensky’s team are corrupt TO THE CORE! pic.twitter.com/t4MsrSeETA [2]
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 28, 2025 [3]
The searches were carried out this week by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, two agencies tasked with addressing long-standing corruption issues in the government.
The agencies confirmed that Yermak’s office was searched.
Yermak, a senior political figure and one of Zelensky’s closest advisers, said investigators also searched his apartment.
He stated that he was cooperating with the inquiry.
“The investigators are facing no obstacles,” Yermak wrote on Telegram, adding that his lawyers were present and that he was providing full assistance.
The investigation concerns a $100 million corruption scandal involving energy officials.
The probe has widened in recent months, drawing renewed attention to allegations of financial wrongdoing in Ukraine’s public sector.
The scandal has placed additional pressure on Zelensky at a time when Ukraine is attempting to maintain military and financial support from the United States and European Union amid ongoing negotiations related to Russia’s invasion.
BREAKING:⚠️ ZELENSKY IS FINISHED — THE GLOBALISTS ARE CUTTING HIM LOOSE
The moment everyone expected has finally arrived.
Volodymyr Zelensky — once the media’s golden idol, the globalists’ perfect puppet, and the West’s most useful asset — is now being sacrificed.… pic.twitter.com/ZawDkHxrbz [4]
— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) November 28, 2025 [5]
Two of Yermak’s former deputies, Oleh Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma, left the government in 2024 after being investigated by watchdog groups for alleged financial crimes.
Another deputy, Andrii Smyrnov, was investigated for possible bribes and other misconduct, though he remains employed under Yermak.
The scrutiny around the case has prompted significant political strain within Zelensky’s party.
Earlier this month, investigators released findings tied to the energy sector probe, which led to internal dissent among lawmakers.
Although Yermak has not been accused of wrongdoing, several members of Zelensky’s parliamentary bloc argued that Yermak should take responsibility to restore public confidence.
Some lawmakers said that if Zelensky did not dismiss Yermak, the party risked fracturing, potentially endangering the president’s parliamentary majority. Zelensky did not act on those demands.
The situation has complicated Ukraine’s broader diplomatic efforts.
The European Union, which Ukraine seeks to join, has emphasized the need for measurable progress against corruption.
Simultaneously, US officials have pressed Ukraine to define its position in ongoing discussions aimed at ending the conflict with Russia.
In response to political tensions, Zelensky urged lawmakers to remain unified and “stop the political games.”
Yermak is considered one of the most influential figures in the Ukrainian government.
He first met Zelensky more than 15 years ago while working as a lawyer and entering the television production industry at a time when Zelensky was a well-known comedian and actor.
After Zelensky entered politics, Yermak took a leading role in foreign affairs during the administration’s first term and became chief of staff in February 2020.
Columbia Prof. Jeff Sachs on CORRUPTION IN UKRAINE:
“[Zelensky] is part of a massive, massive corruption scandal. There was a lot of money being made on this war by Zelensky and his henchmen.” pic.twitter.com/NesHFJUuld [6]
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) November 28, 2025 [7]
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Yermak has accompanied Zelensky on each foreign visit and has been closely involved in negotiations with international partners.
His proximity to the president has contributed to perceptions of his influence within the administration.
Domestically, officials describe him as a primary gatekeeper for senior appointments.
He is widely believed to have influenced the selection of top government officials, including prime ministers and cabinet ministers.
This is not the first time individuals connected to Yermak or the presidential office have been investigated.
Previous inquiries have focused on associates and appointees linked to the administration.
The latest searches expand the scope of oversight efforts and add to the pressures facing Zelensky as the government manages both the war and internal demands for transparency in state institutions.