Mass dismissals at Ukrainian President’s Office following Chief Yermak’s resignation

Following the resignation of Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, reports have emerged of extensive personnel changes.

All official and non-staff advisors of the former office head have been dismissed, including well-known figures such as Serhiy Leshchenko and Mykhailo Podolyak, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian News. 

“In connection with the dismissal of the Head of the President’s Office of Ukraine, individuals serving as assistants and advisors (both staff and non-staff) of the Head of the President’s Office have been relieved of their positions,” the President’s Office stated in response to a query from Ukrainian News.

Public records indicate that as of December 2024, Yermak had nine advisors: staff — Oleksandr Bevz, Liliya Pashynna, Viktoriya Romanova, Tatiana Haiduchenko; non-staff — Serhiy Leshchenko, Daria Zaryvna, Mykhailo Podolyak, Elina Elyanova, and Alexander Rodnyansky.

Earlier, former Member of Parliament, current member of the supervisory board of the state company Ukrzaliznytsia, Serhiy Leshchenko has been dismissed from his position as advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

On November 28, 2025, Andriy Yermak stepped down as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff after Ukraine’s anti‑corruption authorities searched his home and office amid a major graft investigation involving government officials and the state nuclear power company.

President Zelenskyy said he accepted the resignation to avoid internal speculation and keep focus on Ukraine’s defence and diplomacy while the corruption probe continues.

Yermak had been one of Zelenskyy’s closest and most powerful advisers, also leading Ukrainian negotiations in recent international talks, but mounting political pressure and the ongoing anti‑corruption case made his position untenable. 

By Jeyhun Aghazada