Zelensky announces resignation of chief of staff after anti-corruption operation

Yermak leads the Ukrainian delegation in dialogues with Washington and is one of the most important members of the head of state’s team. He has held the position since 2020, two years before the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

The investigations would be related to one of the worst corruption scandals of the presidency, which resulted, in early November, in several arrests and the dismissal of two ministers. The president said there will be a change in the cabinet.

I don’t want anyone to have any doubts about Ukraine today. Therefore, today we have the following internal decisions. First, there will be a reset of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, wrote a letter of resignation.
Volodymyr Zelensky, in his daily TV address

The existence of a “criminal system”, orchestrated by an ally of the president, was revealed by NABU (National Anti-Corruption Agency). The network, according to the agency’s investigators, made it possible to divert 100 million dollars (around R$535 million) in the energy sector.

There is still no definition of who will take Yermak’s place. Zelensky is expected to talk to possible candidates in the coming hours to define who will fill the gap, reports CNN.

Sanctions had been imposed against the alleged organizer of the scheme

Zelensky imposed sanctions against the alleged organizer of the scheme, Timur Mindich, his former partner and considered a close friend. An opposition deputy claims that the presidential chief of staff is mentioned in recordings of the suspects’ conversations, where he is given orders to put pressure on anti-corruption structures.