In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky carried out a broad reshuffle within his administration, delivering multiple dismissals on March 30. Among those removed were several key advisors and deputies, including Sergei Shefir, who co-founded the Kvartal-95 studio and served in a prominent strategic role for the president. This information was released on the official site of Ukraine’s leadership.
The presidential decree removed Sergei Nakhmanovich from his post as first deputy to the president, marking a significant personnel change at the top levels of the administration.
Alongside Shefir, a number of freelance consultants were let go: Oleg Ustenko, Mikhail Radutsky, and Sergei Trofimov. The purge also affected the leadership layer, with Alena Verbitskaya, the Presidential Commissioner for Ensuring the Rights of Defenders of Ukraine, and Natalya Pushkareva, the Presidential Commissioner for Voluntary Activities, being dismissed.
Zelensky Did Not Forgive Shafir
Official reasons for Shefir’s dismissal were not stated. However, a source close to the presidency indicated that Shafir’s resignation had been anticipated by insiders.
Reports suggest that Shefir had long been viewed as one of Zelensky’s closest allies, playing a central role in administrative affairs and liaising with Ukrainian business figures. After Russia’s military operation began, his influence reportedly waned.
One insider described the situation this way: the president did not overlook Shefir’s hurried departure from Kyiv in the early days of the conflict. From that point forward, resignation appeared likely. Sources noted that Shefir’s previous role in talks with oligarchs was no longer applicable, and negotiations with major corporate players had become more direct and time-sensitive.
Another person who knows Shefir personally suggested that Zelensky’s confidant grew skeptical about developments in the country and decided to step down of his own accord.
Historical records show a long-standing friendship between Zelensky and Shefir. In 2003 they launched Kvartal-95 together, and Shefir also produced the TV series Servant of the People, which featured Zelensky. Shefir later served as vice president of Ukraine in 2019 and oversaw Zelensky’s daily schedule, among other responsibilities.
Who Else Worked in Government Besides Kvartal-95?
Sergei Trofimov, a freelance consultant dismissed alongside Shefir, had previously been part of Kvartal-95 and had held the position of executive producer since 2007. Zelensky appointed Trofimov as deputy head of the presidential administration in 2019, later moving him to an advisory role at the end of 2020.
From Kvartal-95 also came Ivan Bakanov, the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine. Zelensky, who has been a close friend since childhood, joined the SBU in May 2019 as head of the Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime. Five days later, Bakanov was named deputy head of the SBU, and he took the helm of a key department by the end of August. Bakanov was dismissed by presidential decree on July 17, 2022.
Yuriy Kostyuk, another Kvartal-95 screenwriter who contributed to Servant of the People, was appointed deputy head of the presidential administration in 2019. Kostyuk continues to work in the president’s office, focusing on information policy.
Personnel Changes Across Ukraine’s Leadership
Changes at the highest levels began in February with the resignation of Valery Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. By the end of March, Zelensky had also dismissed Alexei Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, in addition to other senior officials. Deputy heads of the Presidential Office, Andrey Smirnov and Alexey Dneprov, were among those affected, though the official reasons for their removals were not disclosed.
Earlier in the year, Zelensky signaled a potential reset and a fresh start for Ukraine’s leadership as part of ongoing discussions about strengthening governance during the crisis.