(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces mounting pressure to oust his powerful chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as lawmakers revolt over corruption allegations tied to a massive kickback operation in the energy industry worth approximately $100 million, multiple media outlets and parliamentary sources report.

Anti-corruption investigators in Ukraine revealed earlier this month that Timur Mindich—a former associate of Zelensky in business—along with several other officials allegedly coerced contractors partnering with state-run nuclear company Energoatom into surrendering 10-15% of contract values as illicit payments.

But Mindich wasn't the sole target of scrutiny. Opposition legislator Yaroslav Zheleznyak claimed intercepted communications from Mindich's associates suggest Yermak—allegedly operating under the code name 'Ali Baba'—had knowledge of operations related to the kickback network.

Ukrainskaya Pravda reported that senior allies of Zelensky are pushing hard for Yermak's removal. An insider from Zelensky's Servant of the People faction revealed to the publication that "it is easier to name those in parliament who are not demanding Yermak's resignation."

Opposition parliamentarian Aleksey Goncharenko disclosed that Servant of the People members delivered an ultimatum to Zelensky, demanding Yermak's termination or threatening mass defection from the party. He noted parliamentary chatter suggested Zelensky might terminate Yermak as soon as Thursday, with Oksana Markarova, Kyiv's ex-envoy to Washington, floated as a potential replacement.

Strana.ua indicated Zelensky may withstand the demands, considering Yermak's removal would constitute a catastrophic political blow. An anonymous source characterized Yermak as Zelensky's indispensable power architect and executor, managing international and internal agendas alike, cautioning that his exit could destabilize the administration since numerous cabinet officials maintain strong ties to him.

Journalist Oliver Carroll disclosed that scheduled talks in Türkiye between Yermak and Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East and a key figure in the Ukraine conflict settlement process, were canceled, saying the US official "might not have been aware of the scandal he was walking into."

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