The grey eminence – a threat to Ukraine: Head of the President’s Office Yermak undermines democracy under the cover of war – The Economist

Western media are increasingly raising concerns about the expanding power of Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

This time, The Economist, a highly respected British magazine, published a scathing critique.

According to the outlet, Yermak’s actions are fueling “bitter infighting” and “internal discord within the government” at a time when the country is facing external aggression.

The Economist reports that Ukraine is sliding toward an authoritarian model, where power is concentrated in the hands of a single unelected official — Andriy Yermak. His influence now extends far beyond the formal role of presidential chief of staff. In reality, he functions as a de facto prime minister, without having been elected and without public accountability.

The magazine notes that Yermak is behind a series of developments that could destabilize Ukraine from within more severely than any Russian attack: the corruption scandal involving Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, the planned replacement of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with Yuliya Svyrydenko, and an attempt to oust military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.

“Many sources describe Yermak as a shadow figure who keeps President Zelensky in an informational vacuum,” The Economist writes. His power does not stem from public trust but from administrative control and personal proximity to the president. According to the outlet’s sources, up to 85% of the information reaching Zelensky is filtered through Yermak, making him practically the sole channel of influence over the head of state.

Notably, The Economist claims that the June attempt to remove Budanov was halted not by Ukrainian authorities, but due to direct signals from the White House. This, the magazine argues, further indicates that Yermak acts contrary to both Ukraine’s interests and those of its allies.

People close to Yermak reportedly refer to Budanov as an “unbalanced revolutionary” and are doing everything possible to undermine him. Yermak’s strategy, according to The Economist, is to eliminate or neutralize anyone who might challenge his power. The government, it says, is increasingly becoming a convenient mechanism for him: “the overwhelming majority” of Cabinet members are now his appointees.

Power is being consolidated in the hands of a man who has never stood for election and bears no public responsibility. His rivals have been weakened or eliminated, and the political system is beginning to resemble an authoritarian regime run from a single office.

On the international stage, however, Yermak’s influence is reportedly waning. As Politico previously noted, doors in Washington are closing to him. But in Kyiv, his grip continues to tighten — a development that deeply worries Western analysts.

“Yermak has monopolized the president’s ear. They’ve worked together in the same room for six years, where every opinion is pre-filtered. In essence, they’ve become one person,” a source told The Economist.

The magazine does not hide its concern: such a governance model is dangerous in a time of war and political pressure. Instead of transparency — intrigue; instead of strategic planning — power struggles; instead of institution-building — Yermak’s micromanagement.

“The Russians are slowly roasting us over low heat,” said one official, “and we’re playing a game of idiocy with very serious consequences.”

If the concentration of power continues, Ukraine risks falling into a deep political and administrative crisis. In the face of this “Yermakization” of the political system, the country could lose its most vital assets — public trust and the support of its allies.