Zelenskyy's former top aide Yermak met Ukraine's national security chief at his home on 30 January – Ukrainska Pravda
Ukrainska Pravda has discovered that Andrii Yermak, former head of the Ukrainian President's Office, met with Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, at the residential complex where Umierov lives on the evening of 30 January. Yermak stayed there for around three hours. Umierov confirmed the meeting to Ukrainska Pravda, describing the conversation as general.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda in an investigation titled Godfather working remotely: how Ukrainska Pravda has tracked down Andrii Yermak
Details: Ukrainska Pravda journalists documented Yermak on 30 January travelling from a gym to a residential complex where sources say Umierov lives. His motorcade was met at the underground car park by Umierov's security guard.
Yermak stayed in the building for about three hours and left at 23:17.
Umierov confirmed the meeting to Ukrainska Pravda, saying the conversation lasted about an hour and covered general topics: life, work and events in Ukraine.
He said that since Yermak stepped down, they have had few opportunities to speak, despite having worked closely together for a long time.
He also denied that Yermak or anyone else have influence on his decisions or work.
Background:
- On 28 November, Ukrainska Pravda reported that officers from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) were conducting searches at Yermak's office in the government district. Ukrainska Pravda journalists managed to record around 10 employees from NABU and SAPO entering the government district.
- On 29 November 2025, Yermak announced that he was going to the front after resigning from his post as head of the President's Office amid a corruption scandal and a search by NABU at his residence.
- Yermak confirmed that the search was taking place at his home and said he was ready to assist the investigation.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later announced that he had accepted Yermak's resignation as head of the President's Office and that the institution would now undergo a reboot.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Kyrylo Budanov, former head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), as head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
- On 15 January, NABU director Semen Kryvonos said that Yermak and former defence minister Umierov did not have the status of suspects in the Mindich case at the time.
- It was reported on 25 January that Yermak had reinstated his right to practise law.
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