Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country's lead negotiator in talks with the U.S, after Yermak's residence was searched by anti-corruption investigators.

The unprecedented search at the heart of Ukraine’s government was a blow for the Ukrainian leader that risked disrupting his negotiating strategy at a time when Kyiv is under intense U.S. pressure to sign a peace deal nearly four years after Russia's full-scale invasion.

Yermak has long been a trusted confidante of Zelenskyy, who has resisted persistent pressure to replace him.

On the streets of Kyiv Friday night the announcement was largely welcomed although some expressed concern about what effect the development might have on peace negotiations.

“There is no trust in this person (Yermak). What is happening on the front lines, what corruption is happening in the state at all levels of government,” said Hennadii Sviatenko, 47, Kyiv resident who welcomed the news.

In a nod to the controversy over Yermak’s long stay at his side, Zelenskyy said Russia was waiting for Ukraine to make missteps and upset the delicate and tense peace negotiations.

In his nightly address, Zelenskyy announced that he was “resetting” the presidential office.

He said Yermak had submitted his resignation and that he would begin consultations Saturday to appoint a new chief of staff.

Yermak’s name did not appear on a list of officials that Zelenskyy said would make up the Ukrainian delegation for the next round of negotiations with the United States.

The delegation will now be jointly led by Andrii Hnatov, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister; and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council, Zelenskyy said.

He said negotiations would happen “soon.”

“You know, on the one hand, I think it's definitely a good thing that some kind of purge is being carried out and leaders are being investigated. But on the other hand, I think it's difficult to find a truly effective manager,” said 28-year-old translator Anastasiia Zinchenko.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office are leading a major investigation into a $100 million energy sector scandal involving top Ukrainian officials that has dominated domestic headlines in recent weeks.

Investigators suspect that Tymur Mindich, a one-time business partner of Zelenskyy, was the plot’s mastermind.

Mindich has fled the country, with any criminal proceedings against him likely to be carried out in absentia. Two top government ministers have resigned in the scandal.

Two of Yermak’s former deputies — Oleh Tatarov and Rostyslav Shurma — left the government in 2024 after watchdogs investigated them for financial wrongdoing.

A third deputy, Andrii Smyrnov, was investigated for bribes and other wrongdoing but still works for Yermak.

“It is unclear how things will proceed from here, because as we can see, everything is slowly falling apart. First it was Mindich, now it is Yermak, and it is unclear what will happen next,” said 22-year-old student Mykhailo Manzhula.

AP video shot by: Oleksii Yeroshenko