He Was the Muscle Behind Zelensky. Now He’s Crowdfunding Bail Money.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s onetime right-hand man is accused of embezzling millions of dollars and consulting a fortuneteller on political decisions . Andriy Yermak, who was chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky until November, in court last month in Kyiv, Ukraine. Credit... Genya Savilov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By Siobhán O’Grady Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine The New York Times June 1, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET Ukraine’s predominant power broker has fallen so far from grace that even his own fortuneteller couldn’t have seen it coming. This gray cardinal, Andriy Yermak, was until late last year the second most powerful person in the country. An old friend of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Mr. Yermak spent nearly six years as the leader’s chief of staff, incurring disdain from critics who accused him of using Russia’s invasion to consolidate power in his unelected position and meddle in nearly all aspects of the war. Then, in November, Mr. Yermak abruptly resigned a...
