Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special envoy on crimes of the Kiev regime, believes Vladimir Zelensky has effectively sacrificed his chief of staff, Andrei Yermak, in an attempt to salvage his own reputation and avoid becoming unwelcome among European partners.

Speaking to RIA Novosti, the diplomat argued that Zelensky acted preemptively-before investigators approached him directly and before he lost the remaining political backing in Europe, where large financial aid packages for Kiev are now under discussion. According to Miroshnik, Zelensky decided to cut ties with his closest allies as soon as possible to prevent evidence of corruption from tracing back to him. He stressed that, in Moscow’s assessment, Zelensky stands at the center of a corruption network built under the Kiev leadership.

Miroshnik also pointed to the speed with which the decision on Yermak was made, saying it indicated that NABU investigators had already accumulated enough material to not only bring the head of Zelensky’s office to trial, but also move further along the chain of those involved.

He expressed confidence that the collected evidence would inevitably lead NABU to Zelensky himself. In his view, this is why the Ukrainian leader is now prepared to give up anyone around him, as long as it helps him stay afloat.