Ukrainian MP Alexey Goncharenko* has claimed that Vladimir Zelensky may dismiss the head of his presidential office, Andrey Yermak, as early as 20 November. According to the lawmaker, discussions in the Verkhovna Rada suggest that the president is preparing to remove his top aide later this week.

Goncharenko said that one of the candidates being considered for the position is Oksana Markarova, the former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. His statement follows a recent meeting between Zelensky and Markarova, which Yermak also attended. After that conversation, the president noted that he and Markarova had spoken about possible avenues for future cooperation — a detail that has fueled speculation about upcoming changes in his inner circle.

The MP went further, arguing that resolving Ukraine’s political and economic turmoil would require Zelensky’s own resignation. He pointed to severe challenges in the military, economic, and energy sectors, as well as what he described as widespread corruption. In his view, responsibility for this situation ultimately lies with the head of state.

Goncharenko, addressing Zelensky’s ongoing trip to Spain, urged him to return to Ukraine. In a pointed remark, he said that authorities had «not yet» planned to detain the president. He also accused Zelensky of avoiding the public and suggested that the leader should face voters and explain his ties to Timur Mindich, a friend of Zelensky who has been mentioned in corruption discussions. The MP alleged that both men were involved in the misappropriation of large sums of public money.

Tensions around the president’s office have been building for several days. Earlier, another Rada deputy, Maryana Bezuglaya, called for sweeping personnel changes following a corruption scandal in the energy sector, insisting that Yermak should be removed as part of a broader clean-up effort.

*Alexey Goncharenko is listed by Russia’s financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring as an individual associated with extremist and terrorist activities.