INTERNATIONAL: Ukraine: $100M Oil Scam: Raids Target Zelensky Aide Yermak
Anti-corruption authorities in Ukraine raided the home and offices of Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, on November 28, 2025.
The operation, led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, targeted premises in Kyiv’s presidential compound amid a probe into a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector.
Yermak, a pivotal figure in U.S.-backed peace negotiations with Russia, resigned hours later, marking a significant blow to Zelensky’s inner circle.
This development unfolds as Ukraine faces mounting pressure from Washington to advance talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict.
Zelensky accepted the resignation swiftly, announcing a reorganization of the presidential office to restore public confidence. The timing raises questions about internal stability at a delicate diplomatic juncture.
Yermak’s Role and the Widening Probe
Yermak, 54, evolved from a TV producer and Zelensky’s campaign strategist in 2019 to a dominant force in Ukrainian politics.
He influenced key appointments, including those of the prime minister and ministers, while leading talks with U.S. envoys like Steve Witkoff.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Midas, centers on embezzlement at the state atomic energy company and involves wiretaps spanning 1,000 hours.
Suspicions point to Timur Mindich, a former Zelensky business associate, as a key figure, with probes extending to his potential overseas activities.
Yermak faces no formal charges, yet opposition lawmakers and even allies within Zelensky’s Servant of the People party had demanded his exit to safeguard the government’s credibility.
Fallout and Political Ripples
The scandal has already prompted resignations, amplifying calls for broader reforms. Key departures include:
- Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk.
- Former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who later served as justice minister.
- Two of Yermak’s aides in 2024, with a third still under scrutiny for bribery allegations.
Zelensky’s administration launched a nationwide audit of state-owned enterprises in response, underscoring efforts to combat graft.
The European Union, a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s membership bid, views such accountability as non-negotiable.
Russian officials seized on the news, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggesting it signals deepening instability in Kyiv.
As U.S. delegations prepare for Moscow visits, the episode tests Ukraine’s negotiating leverage.
Orban’s Moscow Gamble
Across the border, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on the same day, prioritizing energy security over EU solidarity.
Orban, who secured a U.S. sanctions waiver from President Donald Trump in early November, framed the trip as essential to avert economic collapse without affordable Russian fuels.
The discussions yielded commitments for uninterrupted oil and gas deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline and TurkStream, alongside a February 5 start for the Paks nuclear plant expansion.
Putin praised Orban’s “balanced” stance on the Ukraine war, hinting at Budapest as a potential summit venue.
This marks Orban’s second Moscow visit since 2024 and 14th overall with Putin, defying the bloc’s push to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
Hungary remains one of the few EU states reliant on Russian imports, fueling tensions with Brussels.
As peace overtures intensify, these events highlight fractures in Europe’s united front.
Will Ukraine’s reforms bolster its case, or does Orban’s outreach signal shifting alliances? The coming weeks may redefine the continent’s energy and security landscape.