Zelenskyy's former top aide Yermak has retained influence despite stepping down – sources

Andrii Yermak, former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has formally stepped back from a public role following his resignation but continues to retain significant influence over personnel decisions and internal processes within the Office.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda article

Details: Sources in political and business circles told Ukrainska Pravda that Yermak still maintains control over most appointees in the Office and has full awareness of internal processes.

"One signal from the president, and everyone would stop taking calls from Andrii Yermak. However, that signal never came. On the contrary, there is a signal confirming Andrii's authority," a UP source in political circles said.

Another source within the government said Yermak's influence has not disappeared but has simply become less public.

Sources also noted that a number of key government figures have retained their positions, while personnel decisions remain under Yermak's influence.

One experienced politician remarked ironically that without the president's approval, it is impossible to "gain access to all brigades or enter the Bar Association".

"We thought the problem was Yermak, so we fought Yermak – but it was the president," one senior member of Zelenskyy's team said off the record in a conversation with Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach two months after Yermak's resignation.

Meanwhile, some sources said that after changes in the Office, it has "become easier to breathe" and access to leadership has improved.

Nevertheless, the source said this apparent decentralisation of influence may be temporary and does not indicate a real change in the decision-making system.

Background:

• On 28 November 2025, Ukrainska Pravda reported that detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and prosecutors from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) had conducted searches in the government quarter at the residence of Yermak. Yermak confirmed the searches and said he was willing to cooperate with the investigation.
• Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Yermak's dismissal. On 2 January, Zelenskyy appointed Defence Intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov as head of the Office.
• Yermak later said he would go to the front after resigning amid a corruption scandal and investigative actions by NABU at his residence.
• According to ZN.UA, Yermak visited the office of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service on 5 December 2025, although Ukrainska Pravda sources did not confirm this report.

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