Yermak maintains considerable influence after dismissal, Chervinskyi suggests
Andriy Yermak (Photo: REUTERS/Alina Smutko)
Former head of the President’s Office, Andriy
Yermak, continues to influence government affairs even 10 months after his
dismissal, Roman Chervinskyy, a former senior officer with Ukraine’s SBU
security service, told NV on Sept. 4.
In an interview with NV Radio, Chervinskyi was commenting on the recent armed clash between Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) and SBU officers.
“This person — acting SBU head Oleksandr Poklad — clearly understands who appointed him, who continues to keep him in that position and to whom he owes his presence there,” Chervinskyi said, referring to Yermak.
“He clearly understands how the structure and decision-making process under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are organized. He understands that Yermak shapes and continues to control those decisions. Nothing has changed in this arrangement.”
According to Chervinskyi, the former Presidential Office head also continues to coordinate Ukraine’s foreign policy.
“For example, in situations that are strategically and geopolitically important for Ukraine, such as accusations that the country was involved in sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines,” he said.
“The decision on how Ukraine will act in these matters is made by Yermak, and he is the one coordinating this activity — I can state that clearly. In other words, Yermak is present in matters that affect Ukraine’s strategic interests, and he effectively shapes the decisions of our state.”
Chervinskyi believes all levels of government are currently
controlled by a single political force: Zelenskyy and his Servant of the People
party. In his view, the lack of professional competition is evident in nearly
every area of government, from the economy and energy to defense and security.
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