A corruption scandal pressures Ukraine's Zelenskyy to show greater
accountability
[November 20, 2025]
By SAMYA KULLAB and ISOBEL KOSHIW
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Pressure is mounting on Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take stronger action to show accountability in
the face of a corruption scandal presenting the greatest threat to his
government since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Last week, Zelenskyy dismissed two top officials and imposed sanctions
on close associates after government investigators revealed that $100
million had been embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid
by contractors.
But that hasn't quieted the political storm. After more than three years
of war in which Ukrainians face regular power outages as a result of
Russia's fierce bombardment, allegations of corruption in the energy
sector aren't sitting well with the public. Calls are growing for
Zelenskyy to remove his longtime chief of staff, Andrii Yermak,
considered by many to be Ukraine’s de facto vice president.
Neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak have been accused of any wrongdoing by
those leading the corruption investigation. Yet Zelenskyy’s political
opponents — as well as allies worried the scandal could weaken their
parliamentary governing coalition — say more senior leaders need to be
held accountable to restore public trust.
Zelenskyy’s term officially ended in May 2024, but he has continued to
govern without elections, saying they cannot be held while Russia is
occupying a fifth of the country.
His critics say it's also important to bolster credibility with
Ukraine's Western allies, whose support is vital to the war effort and
in eventually negotiating an end to the conflict.
“It’s really hard to imagine that all this is happening at the behest of
people from the outside without political support,” Anastasia Radina,
the head of parliament's anti-corruption committee, said on Facebook on
Wednesday. By not cutting ties with Yermak, Zelenskyy is “provoking an
even greater internal crisis,” she said.
Ukraine has been plagued by corruption since gaining independence, and
Zelenskyy was elected on a mandate to eliminate graft.
Two officials in Zelenskyy's office say the president has not made any
decision to dismiss Yermak. The officials spoke on condition of
anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists.
Zelenskyy dismisses top officials
The investigation conducted by Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs
implicated high-ranking officials with pressuring contractors to pay up
to 15% kickbacks in exchange for construction business with Ukraine’s
state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
The investigation involved over 1,000 hours of wiretaps of individuals
using code names and cryptic language to discuss the scheme. In some
conversations, references were made to a powerful figure operating under
the alias “Ali Baba,” though this person's identity has not been made
public, if it is even known.
After the scheme was made public, Ukraine’s parliament approved
Zelenskyy’s dismissal of the energy and justice ministers,. His office
imposed sanctions on close associates who were implicated, including
Tymur Mindich, a co-owner of Zelenskyy’s media production company.
The scandal landed just as Russian airstrikes had left millions of
Ukrainians without power, which only intensified the furor. Earlier this
year, Zelenskyy faced criticism for trying to weaken the watchdog
agencies leading the investigation.
Zelenskyy's political opponents say it is hard to believe that such a
huge corruption scheme could have taken place without the knowledge of
Yermak — the presidential adviser who has towered over Ukrainian
politics for six years — though they have not provided any evidence to
support the allegation.
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This photo combination shows Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of
the President of Ukraine, left, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Dec. 9, 2024 and
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP
Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Yermak has not publicly addressed the calls for his resignation.
However, he has apparently sought to bolster his support within the
government. He sought to arrange a meeting with Ukraine’s popular
former army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who is currently Ukraine's
ambassador to the United Kingdom, according to an official close to
Zaluzhnyi who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The request for a meeting
was denied, the official said.
Yermak's spokesperson did not respond to request for comment.
Political pressure grows
Zelenskyy’s landslide victory in 2019 resulted in him obtaining
around two-thirds of the seats in parliament. Many of his allies
favor Yermak’s resignation, said lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, who is
a member of the president's political party.
“The faction and the parliament don’t want to bear responsibility
for the corruption,” he said.
Around 30 members of parliament from Zelenskyy's party are
campaigning to create a coalition of national stability based on
unity and not political interests and backroom deals, said Mykyta
Porturaev, a leading Zelenskyy party lawmaker. But the head of
Zelenskyy's party, David Arakhamia, said Porturaev's announcement
did not reflect the official party line. Ukraine's parliamentary
speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said lawmakers are consulting on next
steps.
A powerful figure
Yermak met Zelenskyy over 15 years ago when he was a lawyer
venturing into the TV production business and Zelenskyy was a famous
Ukrainian comedian and actor.
Yermak plays a central role in Zelenskyy's administration in
managing relationships with the U.S. and other Western countries,
and developing possible scenarios for a ceasefire with Russia.
He oversaw foreign affairs as part of Zelenskyy’s first presidential
team and was promoted to chief of staff in February 2020.
Yermak has accompanied Zelenskyy on every trip abroad since Russia's
invasion in February 2022, and the president's trust in him has made
Yermak's power appear almost insurmountable.
Domestically, officials describe Yermak as Zelenskyy’s gatekeeper,
and he is widely believed to have chosen all top government
appointees, including prime ministers and ministers.
Individuals connected to Yermak and the president’s office have come
under investigation before.
Two of Yermak’s former deputies — Oleg Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma
— left the government in 2024 under pressure after watchdogs
investigated them for financial wrongdoing. A third deputy, Andriy
Smirnov, was investigated for bribes and other wrongdoing, but still
works for Yermak.
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