Andriy Yermak was a constant, looming presence in Ukraine's government - a seemingly immovable figure on the political stage.
Despite his towering frame, you might not always have spotted him. Yet, wherever President Volodymyr Zelensky was, Yermak was often not far away.
As his chief of staff, Yermak wielded enormous power at the top of government and was even trusted to negotiate on Ukraine's behalf at peace talks with the US.
But as his influence grew, so did public resentment of the power wielded by this unelected official. His political career came to an abrupt end on Friday, hours after anti-corruption investigators raided his home in Kyiv.
Yermak and Zelensky first met in 2011 when the former was an intellectual property lawyer and the latter a TV producer. After working together during the successful presidential campaign of 2019, Yermak became Zelensky's chief of staff. He stood next to the president as he gave his now famous 'we are still here' speech as the Russians descended on Kyiv at the start of their full-scale invasion in February 2022.
As Zelensky concentrated his power over time, Yermak was viewed as the second most powerful person in Ukraine, helping shape foreign policy and even making battlefield decisions.
However, Yermak's popularity was nosediving. The recent resignation follows a series of investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau which implicated members of Zelensky's inner circles, leading to public mistrust and demands for accountability.
As the war with Russia intensifies, this sudden change raises questions about the continuity and stability of Ukraine's governance amidst a pressing need for reform and integrity in leadership.
