When Volodymyr Zelensky fired the head of his administration, Andriy Yermak, at the end of 2025, the Ukrainian media wondered whether he would be officially charged or whether he would remain untouchable? Yermak appeared in the famous “Mindich recordings” — overheard conversations that the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) collected in the case of entrepreneur Timur Mindich, a longtime friend and business partner of Zelensky. Mindicz was suspected of Fr machinations with contracts of the state-owned company Enerhoatommanaged to leave the country and went to Israel. Judging by the recordings, Yermak tried to counteract the NABU investigation by using the security forces. Ultimately, however, other charges were brought against Jermak.
Two years before the war, construction began near Kiev the complex of the elite Dynasty estate. This was handled by a company linked to the Minister of Regional Development and then Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, another close associate of the president. According to the findings of the NABU investigation, the future residents of the estate were Andriy Yermak, Oleksiy Chernyshov, Timur Mindicz and another unidentified person.
However, the investigation put forward a hypothesis that the complex was built for… money coming from corruption around Enerhoatomwhich means that the case is directly related to the Mindicz case. Published materials show that construction continued (and even accelerated) after the start of the full-scale war, and was only stopped in the summer of 2025, when Chernyshov became a suspect in another case – regarding the illegal allocation of land for another construction project in Kiev.
Chernyshov, who at that time served as the Minister of National Unity (a position created, according to the Ukrayinska Pravda website, especially for him), whose task was to bring Ukrainians back to his homeland, ironically, he himself temporarily became a person who could not return: when the news about the criminal case appeared, he was on a foreign delegation and could not decide to return to Ukraine for a long time. However, he later returned, was detained, and the next day his bail was paid in the amount of UAH 51 million (PLN 4.2 million at the current exchange rate).
Ukraińska Pravda, a leading Ukrainian website in the field of investigative journalism, played an active role in disseminating materials regarding the Mindicz case. It was founded by journalist Heorhij Gongadze, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2000. In the same year, the newspaper also published wiretapping recordings indicating the probable involvement of President Leonid Kuchma's entourage in the assassination – which also sparked a political crisis in the country.
Shadow behind the president
On May 11, 2026, Yermak himself received charges from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office – bodies established in 2015 to combat corruption at the highest level. On May 14, the former head of the president's office was detained with the right to pay bail in the amount of UAH 120 million (PLN 9 million) – and he exercised this right. Jermak denies all allegations and intends to defend his case. It is worth noting that he is himself experienced lawyer. Before entering politics, he was the owner of a law firm dealing with copyright.
However, regardless of how the Yermak case turns out, President Zelensky has suffered a serious injury image blow. In the past, he repeatedly called Yermak one of his key collaborators and said about him: “He came with me, he will leave with me.” At some point, the head of the chancellery began to be perceived as a kind of unofficial vice president of the country.
Andriy Yermak in court, May 12, 2026.Danylo Antoniuk / AFP
Zelensky sent Yermak away under pressure, among others. from part of his team – among those supporting the resignation were the current Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk and the head of the Servant of the People faction David Arachamia. However, after his departure, the former head of the president's office continued to influence politics through his people numerous supporters. In the summer of 2025, the head of the Anti-Corruption Center, Vitaly Shabunin, said that without the president's support, Yermak would not be able to implement his plans. The official accusation against Yermak casts a serious shadow over the president.
Another scandalous story related to Zelensky was the interview with his former press spokeswoman Julia Mendel (acting in 2019–2021). Her interlocutor was the American journalist Tucker Carlson, a representative of far-right circles in the Republican Party, previously one of the most ardent supporters of President Donald Trump [obecnie Carlson twierdzi, że żałuje swojego poparcia]author of a favorable interview with Vladimir Putin, the transcript of which was published on the Kremlin's official website.
In the interview, Mendel makes a number of accusations against his former boss: he is allegedly an authoritarian leader and a supporter of Goebbels-style propaganda, he uses drugs and is surrounded by corrupt friends. But the most sensitive accusation is that Mendel says Zelensky was ready return Donbas to Putin in spring 2022. in exchange for ending the war, but changed his mind under the influence of Boris Johnson, and now he is not making any concessions to stay in power (after all, elections cannot be held during war).
This is how Mendel justifies his appearance at Carlson's with unmasking revelations after so many years. – I don't have any feelings for him [Zełenskiego] particular hatred, but I believe that today it is one of the main obstacles to peace, she said.
Controversial allegations
Mendel's confessions are manipulative and her theses are suspiciously reminiscent Kremlin propaganda narratives. She bases most of her accusations on what she has heard from other people. Due to her previous position, she was only well acquainted with the information policy of the president's office.
Mendel comes across as particularly inconsistent in her criticism of Zelensky's propaganda approach, given how actively she opposed journalists early in the president's term, when he was at odds with the Ukrainian media community. It was Mendel who then created a group of bloggers and media loyal to Zelensky and painted an extremely flattering image of the visionary president in her 2021 book.
On the other hand, some of Mendel's apparently most absurd previous statements find unexpected confirmation.
When in February 2026, the former spokeswoman stated that Andriy Yermak was interested in black magic, everyone laughed at it. However, in May 2026, a Ukrainian court officially established that the former head of the president's office regularly consulted a fortune teller on matters of state importance. For example, on various appointments of officials.
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Claims about Zelensky's readiness to territorial concessions at the beginning of the war are not confirmed by any facts, but it can be assumed that in the first months of the war various variants of overcoming the disaster could have been discussed behind the scenes. What is important is that in the end, Zelensky decided not to exchange peace for territory and became a symbol of this approach.
Another thing is that there are more and more Ukrainians tired of war and leans towards a more compromise position. In February 2026, already 40 percent. population was ready to exchange Donbas for the cessation of hostilities. And for this audience, dissatisfied with Zelensky's intransigence, Mendel's revelations may seem convincing.
Political crisis
This double attack on Zelensky caused a serious political crisis in Ukraine. NABU has said that the president is not included in its investigation, but this may be due to the immunity of the country's leader rather than the fact that he is not actually involved in corruption. That is why some opposition representatives are already in favor impeachment of the president based on a case regarding the construction of a housing estate.
Such a radical step is unlikely. Zelensky's Servant of the People party retains majority in parliament. At the same time, it loses its internal unity. For example, it is increasingly difficult for the government to gather votes for unpopular decisions, such as the introduction of new taxes. The president even threatened to send MPs to the front because of their rebellion over various bills. The core of the pro-presidential majority in the party, i.e. the number of MPs fully loyal to Zelensky, has decreased in recent months from 170-180 to 120-130 people, the Ukrainska Pravda website calculated in April.
Society, or at least its politically active part, is also agitated: in recent days, rallies have been held in Kiev against the adoption of the new Civil Code, which contains controversial articles on marriage, LGBT rights and freedom of speech.
They are also adding to the internal pressure on Zelensky external players. Both Putin and Trump have stated that the war in Ukraine is coming to an end. Why they think so remains unclear. However, it is clear that weakening Zelensky politically is in the interests of both of them. At the same time, although one would like to see this double attack on Zelensky in terms of conspiracy theories as something coordinated, these two scandals are of a completely different nature.
Tucker Carlson's information attack clearly reflects the desire of the isolationist wing of Republicans to put pressure on Donald Trump to more actively force Ukraine into peace. For them, Ukraine is an unprofitable investment, the fruit of the Democrats' criminal policy, which dragged the country into an unnecessary conflict with Russia. Discrediting Zelensky is the easiest way to achieve the goal.
NABU's anti-corruption investigations are, on the contrary, an attempt to restore order in the war-torn country, carried out by its pro-European circles and supported by the EU authorities. The system in which the machinations of Yermak and Mindich could thrive is unlikely to be compatible with Ukraine's course towards European integration.
The reaction of society is also clear in this respect. According to data from the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, 54 percent Ukrainians consider corruption to be the main threat to national security, more than war (39%). It is worth recalling how last year's attempts by the authorities to limit the powers of independent anti-corruption bodies sparked the first street protests since the beginning of the war in Kiev and other large cities.
Of course, a political crisis inevitably weakens power. From March to April 2026, the number of people distrustful of Zelensky increased from 32%. up to 36 percent In war conditions, this can be extremely dangerous for the entire country – the enemy can use any internal weakness to his advantage. However, remaining silent about corruption problems “until better times” is probably not a good solution, because Ukraine is waging this terrible war, among others. to defend their European and democratic choice.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
