Journalist Vitaliy Portnikov suggested that the involvement of former Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak as a lawyer accompanying military units may be linked to more than just legal assistance.
According to him, the military may be counting on Yermak’s remaining ties to the president and his ability to lobby for their interests at the government level.
Portnikov revealed this on the air of Espreso.
He noted that the military may view Yermak as someone who can directly bring their concerns to the president and influence decision-making.
“They may believe that Yermak remains in contact with the president, and that they need him not as a lawyer, but as someone who can lobby for their interests in the Office of the President, because they believe that Yermak still has influence over the authorities,” Vitaliy Portnikov said.
According to him, in such a case, the lawyer status may serve as a way to publicly demonstrate a connection with someone who has influence in government circles.
Vitaliy Portnikov explained that, broadly speaking, lawyers can be divided into those who win cases through professional work in court, those who use corrupt mechanisms, and those who have connections with government officials.
“So when the military bring in someone with extensive connections in government, they are not thinking of this person as a lawyer. They are simply using their lawyer status to announce their connection with this person. It is a declaration,” the journalist stressed.
He also drew an analogy, noting that formally, it is not necessary to involve a lawyer to demonstrate connections with the authorities — it could be a person from any profession, as long as they have the necessary access to high-ranking officials.
What Is Known About the “Khartia” Corps Joining Yermak’s “Advokat+” Program
On August 14, “Khartia” announced the start of cooperation with the “Advokat+” program. All eight units of the “Khartia” Corps joined the initiative. The Corps said that the six brigades and two regiments would now have “even more reliable legal support.”
They added that the initiative’s lawyers were already beginning to work with Khartia personnel and thanked the National Bar Association of Ukraine and the relevant committee headed by Andriy Yermak for their cooperation.
The former Head of the Office of the President is the initiator and head of the “Advokat+” project. In March 2026, he headed the National Bar Association of Ukraine’s Committee on the Protection of Victims of Armed Aggression Against Ukraine, Compensation Mechanisms, and Legal Support for European Integration and Reconstruction.
As part of the “Advokat+” program, Yermak is personally involved as a practicing lawyer and travels to units of the Defense Forces to provide legal assistance to service members.
On August 15, writer and “Khartia” service member Serhii Zhadan criticized the Corps’ legal cooperation with former Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, who resumed his legal practice after stepping down from office. At the same time, Commander Ihor Obolenskyi urged people not to forget the support Yermak had provided to “Khartia” back in 2023.
