Zelenskyy’s top aide quits after anti-corruption raid on his home

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s powerful chief of staff and closest ally, Andriy Yermak, resigned yesterday after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies conducted searches at his apartment.

- Dan Sabbagh

The abrupt departure of the aide who had been leading the latest round of delicate peace negotiations with the United States was announced by the Ukrainian president in a late-afternoon social media video.

Zelenskyy praised Yermak but made clear that “there should be no reason to be distracted by anything other than the defence of Ukraine” at a time when Kyiv was dependent on retaining US support in the face of Russian territorial demands.

Yermak had submitted his resignation, the president said. The search for a successor would begin today and the powerful office of the president of Ukraine, which Yermak led, would be “reorganised” as part of the process.

“I am grateful to Andriy for always representing Ukraine’s position in the negotiation track exactly as it should be. It has always been a patriotic position. But I want there to be no rumours or speculation,” he said.