The resignation on Friday of Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s most trusted and powerful lieutenant, should hearten supporters of Ukraine. While Yermak’s departure is likely to unsettle the government, as various players struggle to fill the vacuum he leaves behind, that turbulence will be short-lived. If he plays his cards right, Zelensky could emerge from this crisis stronger, with his legitimacy bolstered and better situated to sell difficult decisions to his countrymen.
Democracy is making a comeback in the war-weary country, and that’s a good thing. Martial law, imposed immediately after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has allowed Ukraine to keep fighting — but at a cost. In the pursuit of streamlined decision-making, Zelensky has concentrated power around himself. Yermak personified that.
On the surface, this story appears to be about corruption. Ukraine’s independent investigative agency, NABU, revealed earlier this month that it had uncovered evidence linking several people in Zelensky’s government to a procurement kickback scheme in the energy sector. The scheme was particularly infuriating for regular Ukrainians, given that they are currently suffering through hours-long blackouts due to Russia’s relentless assault on the electricity grid. And while the initial investigation didn’t implicate Yermak, most Ukrainians suspected Zelensky’s top fixer at least knew about what was happening.
Yermak resigned after anti-corruption officials raided his home early Friday. But whether he was personally involved is of secondary importance. Even before President Donald Trump’s 28-point “peace plan” became public, members of the opposition in parliament, as well as members of Zelensky’s own party, began to demand Yermak step aside and Zelensky form a more transparent national unity government.
The harsh terms of Trump’s initial plan shocked Ukrainian society, and Zelensky dug in, telling members of his parliamentary faction that he would not fire anyone. A week later, his calculus has changed. After Yermak’s fall, Zelensky announced a “reset” in his office. By broadening his wartime government to include fewer loyalists, Zelensky could reclaim some lost credibility.
Democracy and martial law make strange bedfellows. In Russia, where President Vladimir Putin’s hierarchical power is never contested, authoritarianism is entrenched. Repressive measures imposed for the sake of the war are unlikely to ever be lifted.
In Ukraine, however, the democratic spirit never bridled under wartime restrictions. Most Ukrainians understand that emergency measures have been necessary but remain skeptical of permanent centralized rule.
Isolationists in Washington may try to use Yermak’s resignation as an excuse to ditch Ukraine, citing it as evidence of endemic corruption. In truth, his ouster is evidence of resiliency and maturity that should hearten the Trump administration. Friday’s news shows Zelensky’s willingness to sideline even his closest aide to do what’s best for his country in its fight for national survival.
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