Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Andriy Yermak as head of the President’s Office almost two months ago, on November 28. Yermak had promised to head to the front lines, but, as it turns out, he has not joined the Defense Forces.
After his dismissal from the office on Bankova Street, Andriy Yermak resumed his legal practice on January 23, 2026. As Glavcom reports, this is confirmed by an extract from the register of attorneys.
Yermak, who had practiced law since 1995, halted his legal work only in February 2020 after he took over the President’s Office. In October 1997, attorneys Vasyl Vashchenko, Mykhailo Prykhodko and Andriy Yermak registered International Law Firm LLC, where Yermak drew a salary both as his primary workplace and “concurrently,” even while on the staff of the State Management of Affairs.
Yermak is also seeking in court to lift the seizure of his property, imposed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). Searches conducted on November 28 led to Yermak’s resignation. NABU detectives seized several laptops and phones, and the High Anti-Corruption Court placed the property under arrest.
The outlet found that on December 16, 2025, Yermak and his attorney Artem Zakharov filed an appeal seeking to overturn the seizure, but on January 19 the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court left the ruling in place.
The report also notes that criminal case No. 52025000000000472, under which NABU and SAP searched Yermak’s premises, coincides with the so-called “Mindich case,” which centers on large-scale embezzlement of budget funds in the energy sector. However, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos has said the former presidential chief of staff does not have suspect status.
Asked by the outlet to comment on the court proceedings involving his client, Yermak’s lawyer Artem Zakharov said he had not received authorization to do so.
“I do not yet have the authority to provide comments,” the attorney replied.
Focus previously reported on Yermak’s stated plan to head to the front lines.
In December, journalists from “Slidstvo.Info” asked Ukraine’s General Staff whether Yermak had joined the military. The Ukrainian Forces replied that the former head of the President’s Office is not serving with the Ground Forces.
A Ukrainian Armed Forces service member and former MP, Tetiana Chornovol, said Yermak did not respond to her invitation to mobilize into her unit as a drone pilot.
