Concerns have arisen in the West regarding the influence of the problematic head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak

Yermak is prepared to stand in for Zelensky when the latter is unavailable. However, Yermak, often referred to as the second most influential person in Ukraine, has been embroiled in various scandals, some linked to corruption and deception. He has become a gray cardinal in Ukrainian politics, as per the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

It’s believed that Yermak controls the intelligence services, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and agencies combating corruption: issuing orders to all of them. Additionally, a significant portion of Ukraine’s economy is under his influence. For instance, the deputy responsible for the economy, closely associated with Yermak, is under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau due to questionable business dealings involving his brother. Another deputy in charge of the judicial system and anti-corruption efforts has officially been charged with bribery.

During a visit to Washington, Yermak claimed that Ukrainian forces had secured a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. However, military personnel stationed in that area later stated that there was no foothold for an offensive and that their deployment to that small patch of land was a “suicidal mission” that resulted in significant losses.