Ukraine’s corruption crisis just hit a boiling point — and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s most powerful aide has fallen.
In a dramatic early morning raid, Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators stormed the home and office of Andrii Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff and longtime political enforcer. Hours later, Yermak was out of a job.
“I am grateful to Andrii for his service,” Zelensky said in a video message posted to Telegram Thursday. “But we need inner strength. There will be no mistakes on our part.”
The resignation came amid a snowballing corruption scandal tied to a $100 million kickback scheme involving Ukraine’s state nuclear energy giant, Energoatom — a scheme so explosive it has already forced the resignations of two cabinet ministers and reportedly triggered the flight of a top Zelensky ally.
The probe — dubbed Operation Midas — was the result of a 15-month joint investigation by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). According to authorities, officials demanded 10% to 15% kickbacks from contractors or risked being blacklisted.
The alleged criminal network siphoned off tens of millions from Ukraine’s fragile energy sector while ordinary citizens faced rolling blackouts, energy shortages, and freezing temperatures heading into winter.
One former Ukrainian contractor described the scheme as “a mafia-style extortion ring dressed in suits.” Speaking anonymously to local press, he said: “You either pay the tax or your business disappears. Everyone knew who was behind it — and they were untouchable.”
Five suspects were arrested in the initial raid. Seven more have been named, including a former deputy prime minister. The alleged ringleader — a close associate of Zelensky — fled the country after accusations surfaced, according to The Times (UK).
Yermak confirmed the raid on his residence Thursday, posting:
“There are no obstacles to investigators. My lawyers are cooperating fully.”
But few in Kiev are convinced this is just a coincidence — especially as U.S. patience runs thin.
The scandal has deeply alarmed American officials, especially in Washington’s Republican circles, where support for endless aid to Ukraine is evaporating.
President Donald J. Trump, who returned to office in January 2025, has repeatedly criticized Ukraine’s lack of accountability and vowed to “end the war with Russia through negotiation — not blind checks.”
Senior administration officials confirmed that the White House is reassessing aid agreements, especially as Zelensky struggles to secure a peace deal and tamp down dissent within his war-fatigued nation.
“American taxpayers deserve transparency — not kleptocracy,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), chair of the House Oversight Committee. “If President Zelensky can’t control his inner circle, why should we keep bankrolling them?”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders added:
“President Trump has made it clear: corruption has no place in our foreign policy. We’re watching this closely.”
Ukrainians — weary from war, power cuts, and economic hardship — have responded with outrage.
“It’s betrayal,” said Oksana Petriv, a Kyiv mother of three, interviewed on local TV. “We lose our homes, we bury our sons, and these men steal millions?”
Zelensky, under fire, vowed to “support every investigation” and said corruption in the energy sector was “absolutely unacceptable.” He also imposed sanctions on two officials tied to the scandal, though critics say the actions are too little, too late.
Meanwhile, the head of NABU, Semen Kryvonos, told lawmakers that more arrests are imminent.
“We are analyzing thousands of hours of recordings and following the money. This case will expand,” Kryvonos warned during a Nov. 25 hearing.
With NATO fatigue growing and President Trump pushing for “peace through strength and leverage”, Ukraine’s leadership is under unprecedented pressure. Analysts warn that any further scandal could derail not just Zelensky’s presidency — but U.S. military and financial support altogether.
“This isn’t just a Ukraine story,” said political analyst Victoria Miller. “This is a test of whether U.S. foreign aid is funding democracy — or enriching oligarchs in a time of war.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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Source: Newsweek
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This has been allowed because the Dems refused to put a person in place to verify our money was going where it was supposed to go. It all started with Hunter on one board of Barisma being bribed with an inflated salary.