Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, resigned Friday following investigative actions by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he accepted the resignation, emphasizing that Yermak had acted in the country’s best interests. “All procedural actions will be conducted transparently, and everything will be checked internally,” Zelenskyy said in a video address.
“Russia is eager for Ukraine to make mistakes, but we will not,” Zelenskyy added, noting that Yermak had led Ukraine’s delegation in the latest round of peace negotiations, while the government pledged to maintain discipline and stability amid the ongoing probe.
NABU and SAPO confirmed in separate statements that investigative measures targeting the head of the President’s Office are being carried out within the framework of an ongoing investigation. “Further details will follow,” both agencies said.
Yermak issued a short statement saying: “Today, NABU and SAP are indeed conducting procedural actions at my home. There are no obstacles for the investigators. They were provided with full access to the apartment, on site – my lawyers, who are interacting with the law enforcement officers. From my side – full cooperation.”
People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak of the pro-European Holos party said NABU recordings list Yermak under the code name “Ali Baba,” allegedly giving tasks to undermine NABU detectives and attempting to compromise the independence of anti-corruption bodies in July 2025—a plan reportedly halted by public protests.
The resignation comes amid NABU’s 15-month “Midas” operation, which dismantled a criminal network accused of siphoning roughly $100 million from state-owned nuclear operator Energoatom. As OCCRP reported, the probe identified “shadow managers” allegedly forcing contractors to pay 10–15 per cent kickbacks and laundering illicit funds through offshore firms. Seven suspects have been formally notified, five detained, and high-profile figures including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko are implicated.
Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court on November 18 ordered Chernyshov held until January 16, with bail set at 51 million hryvnias ($1.3 million). Prosecutors allege he helped the network legalize more than $1.2 million in illicit funds and is referenced as “Che Guevara” in NABU recordings, a claim he denies.
Ukraine’s government also sanctioned businessman Timur Mindich, a close associate of Zelenskyy, including freezing assets and bank accounts.
