Kyiv, November 19 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing growing pressure, including from members of his own party, to dismiss his chief of staff Andriy Yermak. The calls for resignation come in the wake of a corruption scandal in the energy sector, according to reports citing senior Ukrainian officials.
The controversy stems from a large-scale investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), which recently uncovered bags of foreign currency and conducted searches at the homes of former Energy Minister German Galushchenko and other associates. Opposition figures have attempted to link Yermak or his subordinates to the case, alleging involvement under the pseudonym “Ali Baba.”
Despite mounting criticism, officials close to the presidency said Zelenskyy does not intend to remove Yermak. Instead, he is considering a government reshuffle that could include opposition figures in an effort to ease political tensions. Analysts warn that the dispute could become one of the most significant domestic challenges since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The investigation has already led to sanctions against Zelenskyy’s associate Timur Mindich, who reportedly left Ukraine before NABU searches began. Sensitive extracts from recorded conversations involving Mindich and other energy officials have further fueled the scandal.
Local media reported that many of Zelenskyy’s allies have advised him to dismiss Yermak, with some lawmakers predicting that a decision could be announced by November 20. The outcome is expected to have major implications for Ukraine’s political stability and its ongoing fight against corruption.
