- This story is developing, more to follow
Volodymyr Zelensky’s underfire chief of staff has dramatically quit this afternoon hours after anti-graft investigators searched his home amid a deepening corruption crisis in Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak’s resignation comes with Kyiv already rocked by a major fraud probe into £75million energy kickbacks in what has been dubbed the ‘golden toilet’ scandal.
Zelensky, who announced Yermak’s departure in a video this afternoon, is now facing mounting domestic chaos as he desperately tries to secure a favourable outcome in peace talks between Russia and America.
‘Russia really wants Ukraine to make mistakes. There will be no mistakes on our part,’ Zelensky said in the video.
Anti-graft agencies are already probing a massive energy corruption scandal that has been the latest embarrassment for the embattled president.
Both NABU and SAPO alleged that a group of seven, including Ukrainian government officials, were collecting bribes from the state nuclear power company, Energoatom.
The group of officials are said to have collected 10-15% of the value of each contract given, amounting to £75million that was unlawfully given to the tiny group – money that could have been used to help defend Ukraine from Russian attacks.
The scandal provoked further anger after a former Ukrainian government official said the businessman allegedly at the head of it ‘had an apartment with golden toilets’.
Yermak’s political opponents have been trying to link him to the scandal that has rocked the embattled nation, claiming that either he or one of his underlings is the anonymous individual referred to as ‘Ali Baba’ in wiretapped conversations related to the investigation.
The 54-year-old previously denied involvement in the scheme, telling German newspaper Welt last week: ‘People mention me, and sometimes, absolutely without any evidence, they try to accuse me of things I don’t even know about’.
Yermak was once considered Ukraine’s second-most powerful man, having stood by Zelensky’s side since he took office in 2019.
Zelensky said of his former chief of staff: ‘The president’s office of Ukraine will undergo a full reboot. Its head, Andriy Yermak, has tendered his resignation.
‘I am grateful to Andriy for consistently presenting Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table exactly as it ought to be presented. His stance has always been staunchly patriotic.
‘However, I want to avoid any rumours or needless speculation. As for the future head of the Office, tomorrow I will hold consultations with those who may be suited to lead this institution’.
He added: ‘We are now preparing for a meeting with the American side to discuss the steps needed to secure a genuine peace, and one that is worthy of our people.
‘At a time when all attention is fixed on diplomacy and on defending the country during the war, we must draw on our inner strength… and for that inner strength to hold, there must be no distractions from anything other than the defence of Ukraine. I want there to be no doubts about our country, from anyone’.
The alleged ringleader and mastermind of the corruption scheme is businessman Timur Mindich, a long-time contact of Zelensky’s.
Even before Zelensky’s shock rise to high office in 2019, Mindich is said to have been one of his closest associates.
Zelenksy and Mindich’s close friendship is well documented and, according to Ukrainian officials, experts and activists, Mindich’s rise to power is closely linked to his relationship with Zelensky’s inner circle.
The president used Mindich’s armored car during the final stretch of his presidential campaign in 2019, and in 2021, Zelensky celebrated his birthday in the businessman’s apartment during COVID. The two own properties in the same building.
Mindich was also a close business associate of Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky, who backed Zelensky’s presidential campaign.
Zelensky later cut ties with the billionaire and in 2023, Kolomoysky was arrested by Ukrainian security services on fraud and money-laundering charges.
This didn’t stop the Ukrainian president from placing sanctions against Mindich, who has since fled Ukraine. Any criminal proceedings against Mindich, who has reportedly fled to Poland, are likely to be carried out in absentia.
More to follow.
