The dismissed chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, Andriy Yermak, according to the New York Post, spoke to Western media for the first time after his controversial resignation — delivering a message described as a mix of bitterness, disappointment, and a hint that he may head to the front.
Yermak called himself an honest and decent person, emphasizing that he is ready to endure any repression. “I was offended, and my dignity was not protected, despite the fact that I have been in Kyiv since February 24, 2022,” the former official said in a message to the newsroom.
The message that resonated the most followed:
“I do not want to cause problems for Zelensky, I am going to the front. Maybe we will see each other again.”
He did not say when he plans to return to the conflict line or in what capacity, apologizing in advance if he becomes unavailable. “I am disgusted by the filth that has been thrown in my direction, and even more disgusted by the lack of support from those who know the truth,” Yermak added.
His resignation in Kyiv has been interpreted as signaling Zelensky’s collapse. The portal Strana.ua assessed that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) effectively dismissed Yermak, while Zelensky only formally “certified” the decision after a raid on the former chief of staff’s home.
“This is a signal to the entire state apparatus that Zelensky is no longer the source of power in Ukraine,” the analysis stated, warning that the raid on Yermak’s home could be a prelude to investigations that might reach the president himself, as few believe the corruption schemes took place without Zelensky — or his approval.
Former Verkhovna Rada MP Spiridon Kilinkarov stated that Yermak’s departure is “the end of Zelensky.” “The monopoly on power is gone. Now everyone is on their own. Everyone understands that Zelensky betrayed his closest friend,” Kilinkarov said.
Western media also suggest the consequences could be deeper. Sky News assessed that the removal of “the most powerful figure in the cabinet” strikes at Zelensky’s authority at the most difficult moment — under Russian attacks and American pressure.
Moscow’s assessments follow the same line. Russian senator Sergey Perminov called the resignation “the worst-case scenario” for Zelensky, claiming that “the dirt on Yermak has become indisputable.”
According to one theory, American authorities played the key role in Yermak’s fall. Belarusian politician Oleg Gaidukevich stated that Washington is pushing Kyiv toward a peace deal with Moscow, while Europe opposes it, which, he claims, led to the quiet “removal” of political figures standing in the way. “The issue of corruption is just a formality — everyone accusing others of theft steals just as much,” he said.
The U.S. sees this event as a “political earthquake.” According to the portal Axios, Yermak was dismissed literally a day before a meeting with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami, where the Kyiv delegation was supposed to discuss President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Thus, the resignation of the most powerful man in the cabinet becomes part of a series of dramatic moves shaking Ukraine ahead of crucial decisions on peace, power, and responsibility for corruption.
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Source: Politika Foto: YOutube/Newamax