Zelensky's Ex-Aide Vows to Fight on Frontline After ...

By Brendan Cole

Senior News Reporter

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Former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, has vowed to go to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war after resigning amid a corruption scandal, reportedly telling the New York Post on Friday, “I am an honest and decent person.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former right-hand man and a key figure in Kyiv diplomacy during Moscow's full-scale invasion that began in February 2022, reportedly made the pledge after anti-corruption agents raided his home amid a scandal over an alleged kickback scheme in the energy sector.

Yermak is not accused of wrongdoing but issued a defiant message that he was innocent, telling the Post via text message, “I’ve been desecrated and my dignity hasn’t been protected," adding that he was “disgusted by the filth directed at me, and even more disgusted by the lack of support from those who know the truth.”

The scandal adds pressure on Zelensky as his administration looks to change the terms of a U.S.-led draft peace plan originally seen as favoring Russia

However, chairman and co-founder of the nonprofit Nova Ukraine, Mikola Bilogorskiy, told Newsweek that the probe that led to Yermak’s resignation showed that “Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are working as intended.”

Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian presidential office for comment on Saturday.

Why It Matters

Corruption in Ukraine has been a major concern of the U.S. under the Trump administration and a focal point of criticism targeting Zelensky. The latest $100 million corruption scandal involving Ukraine's nuclear energy body, Energoatom, Energoatom, has triggered Ukraine's worst political crisis since the Russia-Ukraine war began.

It also comes as Ukraine has been under U.S. pressure to secure a peace deal with Moscow, threatening to further undermine American public support for Ukraine and trust in Zelensky's leadership as well as imperil the vital U.S. support for its defense against Russia's forces.

Corruption in the energy sector has also infuriated many Ukrainians who are increasingly suffering from power cuts as winter sets in.

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What To Know

The Post reported on Friday that Yermak texted that he would go to the war's frontline and was ready for any reprisals, adding that he was an honest and decent person.

He did not specify which unit he would join or when exactly he would depart but said he had served Ukraine and was in Kyiv on the first day of the war.

The reported messages followed a raid on his apartment and his resignation just before he was scheduled to meet with the U.S. team leading talks to end the war.

On Friday, the Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) conducted searches at Yermak's office in the government district, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Yermak confirmed his home was being searched and that he would assist the investigation and as of Saturday morning, he has not been charged with anything.

Ukraine’s anti-graft watchdog conducted “Operation Midas,” uncovering a scheme that allegedly forced Energoatom contractors to pay up to 15 percent kickbacks.

Zelensky has already fired Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko. Several suspects have been detained amid public outrage that money was diverted from key infrastructure projects safeguarding power supplies.

Nova Ukraine, a U.S.-based nonprofit that backs civil society and anti-corruption initiatives in Ukraine, said the probe showed the anti-corruption institutions are acting in line with their original mandate—operating independently and reaching even the president’s inner circle.

But it required steady allied support for Ukraine’s institutions and its elected government, including military aid, funding, and political backing, rather than pressure to concede territory to Russia for an unstable ceasefire.

Bilogorskiy told Newsweek in a statement that it “shows Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are working as intended. I am encouraged to see that.”

What People Are Saying

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement shared on social media this month: "There must be maximum integrity in the energy sector, in absolutely all processes. I support—and the Prime Minister supports—every investigation carried out by law enforcement and anti-corruption officials. This is an absolutely clear and consistent position for everyone."

He added: "Right now it is extremely difficult for everyone in Ukraine—enduring power outages, Russian strikes, and losses. It is absolutely unacceptable that, amid all this, there are also some schemes in the energy sector."

Igor Markov, board director of Nova Ukraine, told Newsweek: “Ukraine should not be forced to trade its sovereignty just as it shows a strong commitment to independence and rule of law. A lasting victory demands defeating both Russian occupiers and internal graft.”

Mikola (Nick) Bilogorskiy, chairman and co-founder of Nova Ukraine, told Newsweek: “The news shows Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are working as intended. I am encouraged to see that, given that we have funded multiple anti-corruption projects over the years."

What Happens Next?

The anti-corruption investigation in Ukraine is likely to continue, although it's unclear whether it will directly implicate Yermak. Zelensky said he would hold talks on Saturday over his replacement.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to meet this weekend with the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for continued peace plan talks.

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