Top government figures urge Zelenskyy to dismiss Yermak — media
Top officials urge Zelenskyy to fire Yermak (Photo: Andrii Yermak / Telegram)
Key officials close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are advising him to dismiss Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak amid the high-profile NABU Midas case, NV sister outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported on Nov. 18.
Over the past week Zelenskyy has held meetings with major figures in his governing team to determine a decision that could stabilize the situation after the corruption probe in the energy sector became public.
Some of these meetings were mentioned in official reports, including conversations with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov.
“According to people familiar with the discussions at these meetings, most of those interviewed by the president offered various strategies for getting out of the crisis — but almost all of them, independently of one another, advised replacing the head of Presidentia Office, Andrii Yermak,” the report wrote.
Senior source in Servant of the People political party told the outlet that it is easier to count those who are not calling for Yermak’s resignation in Ukrainian parliament.
“Of course, no one is issuing direct threats, but if this doesn’t happen, the faction will simply fall apart,” one source said.
Within the ruling party, a group referred to as the “coalition of the determined” has formed — some are even threatening to leave the faction if Yermak is not dismissed.
The initiative originates from the Arakhamia–Hetmantsev tandem, in alliance with the liberal wing of the party.
Operation Midas
On Nov. 10, NABU detectives conducted searches at businessman Tymur Mindich’s home, as well as at former Energy Minister and current Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, and at the Energoatom company. Mindich left Ukraine a few hours before the raids.
NABU said that detectives, within Operation Midas, documented the activities of a “high-level criminal organization” headed by a “media-famous businessman.” The suspects had constructed a large-scale corruption scheme to influence Energoatom and demanded kickbacks of 10–15% of contract values from the company’s contractors.
Five suspects were detained and placed under arrest with an option for bail. Among them were former Energy Ministry adviser Ihor Myroniuk, Energoatom’s Executive Director for Security Dmytro Basov, and several “back-office” employees who, according to investigators, laundered the money.
On Nov. 13, journalist Oleh Novikov reported that bail had been posted for two female suspects — Lesia Ustymenko and Liudmyla Zorina.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said all those guilty must be convicted. He also introduced sanctions against businessmen Mindich and Oleksandr Zuckerman.
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