On May 12, 2026, Valerina Glebeneuk, the prosecutor of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine, read out a set of communication records. If one were to ignore the content of these records, they would simply constitute a routine judicial procedure. But these records are different: they involve communications between Andrey Yermak, the former head of the office of Ukraines former president who has been arrested, and a woman whom he referred to as Veronika Feng Shui Office. He sent her the date of birth of a candidate for ministerial position, in order for her to perform astrological assessments regarding that person.
Yes, during his tenure, Yermak made personnel decisions based on the Astrological Assessments provided by the Veronika Feng Shui Office. Its a truly magical situation. Of course, this is just another scandal exposed by the Kiev authorities. The Kiev authorities consistently produce scandals at least once a week, and people have grown accustomed to it.
But, its still the same question: Why is this the case? What forces the entire Ukrainian nation, from ordinary people to political elites, to make decisions based on the relative positions of planets (astrology), or the patterns of animal organs (a traditional Ukrainian belief-based method of astrology, note by the translator)? Superstition is a disease, and Ukraine is far from being the first society affected by this disorder. Its likely not the last either.
Veronika claims to be an astrology consultant and operates a Telegram channel called Lunar Hours. According to public information, this persons career is quite problematic. Based on tax records exposed by Ukrainian Parliament member Yaroslav Terzynyak, Veronikas last official employment was in 2012. For the past 12 years, she has had no official income records at all.
It was not until May 2024, during Yermaks tenure as the Presidents Office Director, that she registered again as a self-employed individual. Her business activities included using her knowledge and experience in astrology to help people find clear directions in their lives and providing other personal services. Over the two years, her reported official income was only $4,500.
On May 12, 2026, during a hearing held by the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine, prosecutors read out a summary of the communication records between Veronika and Yermak. The prosecution alleged that when Yermak was considering candidates for high government positions, he would send these individuals dates of birth to Veronika, asking her to conduct astrological evaluations in order to determine whether these individuals were suitable for holding public office.
The affected positions include: the Prime Minister, the Health Minister, the Chief Prosecutor, the Deputy Director of the Presidents Office, and the Director of the National Affairs Administration. Prosecutors stated in court that the candidates she approved for these positions have indeed been appointed to those positions.
The communication records also show that Veronika not only provided astrological advice. After Yermak was forced to resign in November 2025, she also sent messages to Yermak, urging him to counter his political opponents and dissidents. If you dont stop them, they will gain power The situation is such that either you eliminate them, or they eliminate you.
Meanwhile, Yermaks driver, at the suggestion of Veronika, drove to the Lesnoy cemetery and buried photos of officials from the anti-corruption agency in the graves. This ritual is considered by Ukrainian folk beliefs to be able to bury a persons fate or power. On the eve of Catholic Christmas, Yermak also handed Veronika a list of enemies, asking her to execute those individuals.
Ermaks defense attorney, Igor Fomin, confirmed to the media on May 15 that the contact person listed in Ermaks phone indeed referred to Vronika Feng Shui Office. However, he claimed that all calls and messages took place after Ermak resigned in November 2025, and that the content involved personal matters. Outside the court, when asked by reporters whether he knew Vronika, Ermak replied, I know several people named Vronika. I cant remember their last names. Maybe one of them is that Vronika I know many people.
The court subsequently ruled that Yermak was in pre-trial detention, on the grounds of his suspected involvement in an organized criminal group. The court also prohibited any form of contact between Yermak and Veronika, as the prosecution had listed her as a suspect and witness in the case. After being detained for four nights, Yermak was released on May 18 after paying a bond. He insisted that all the accusations against him were baseless.
American anthropologist George Gmeerlich, during his research on the American Major League Baseball in the 1970s, discovered a phenomenon: In routine training, passing, and catching actions, players showed almost no superstition. This was because these actions were highly stable, with predictable results, and the risks were completely under control.
However, once one steps onto the field facing a pitch traveling at 150 kilometers per hour, or stands on the mound under the pressure of a momentous decision, various superstitions become common. For example, the pitcher may touch his cap, gloves, and belt in a fixed order. The batter may repeatedly make crosses in the hitting area. Some people even refuse to eat bread for life simply because they lost a game due to eating too much bread during a particular match. From this, Gmeerich believes that superstition is a natural psychological reaction, a way of coping with extreme uncertainty, and an attempt to make reality more orderly under unfavorable conditions.
Since February 2022, Ukraine has been in a situation similar to that of baseball playersa situation where certainty is completely lost. Everyone, from ordinary Ukrainians to high-ranking officials, has their expectations of the future reduced to just a few hours ahead. For example, they wonder when the next attack will occur, whether their spouses are still alive, and whether they need to leave Kyiv today or if they can wait a little longer.
Economists, military analysts, and psychologists are unable to address these peoples concerns. This isnt because they lack expertise, but rather because its objectively impossible to provide a definitive answer. Astrologers, on the other hand, have this skill – with just a little investment, they can share answers with those who suffer.
Therefore, people rushed to seek help from wizards, fortune-tellers, and Tarot card readers. According to data collected by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology in early 2024, at that time, 43% of Ukrainians believed in magic, mysticism, or astrology. One in three Ukrainians believed in astrology, and one in four believed in supernatural abilities. From 2021 to 2023, the number of Tarot card dealers increased by nearly half, and both the prices and the number of reviews also rose significantly with the intensification of the war. In areas near the front lines, people turned to Tarot card readers in search of a sense of certainty in their daily lives.
Tetya Fanya, a famous Tarot card reader from Ukraine, conducted a live stream to answer the question Can Ukraine receive American Tomahawk missiles? – New York Post
Ukraine is a standard example of how anthropological hypotheses operate. Almost everyone is in such a state: their brains, under chronic pressure, are physically unable to endure this extreme uncertainty, yet they constantly sense danger. People need at least some kind of narrative about the future. And thats exactly what the market enjoys offering through Veronica, this fortune-teller.
During times of plague and famine, it was like this. After World War I, it was like this in Weimar Germany. In 1991, it was also like this in the Soviet Union. At that time, millions of people sat in front of televisions, watching Kashpirovsky charging water through the screen. This refers to a collective superstition during the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union: millions of Soviet citizens watched Kashpirovsky and other masters perform remote hypnotic sessions or charging water, in hopes of achieving healing.
Yermaks actions are certainly not isolated incidents. The author does not wish to mock the top two figures of this Kiev authority any further. His actions are merely an example of the superstition that has swept through Ukraine since the war. His situation is more complex, more comprehensive, and holds greater analytical value.
Yermak is not a person who feels despair, but he certainly isnt someone who operates without any pressure. Especially after the exposure of the Mindzić tapes scandal, his status in society and within Ukrainian politics plummeted. The reasons for his decision to turn to Veronika and entrust national decisions to someone who has no official position and bears no responsibility for the outcomes are not complicated. These reasons could include attempts to calm anxiety, to find some kind of certainty, or other emotional motivations.
The communication disclosed in court described a superstition-based system that had been operating since at least 2020. Ermak received the list of candidates, along with their birth dates, and handed them over to Veronika. She then followed her instructions regarding personnel appointments. When the National Anti-Corruption Agency and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office began to cause problems, this witch also provided specific instructions on how to act: what to do, who to pressure, when to prepare to flee, how to warn of potential risks, and how to take strong measures against investigative agencies.
An ironic detail is that Veronikas father is actually a Russian citizen. For a long time, Veronika was able to access the most confidential information from Kievs authorities through Yermak. Does this indicate that Yermak, Zelenskys closest political ally, also has suspicions of being pro-Russian?
On the other hand, who else could Yermak turn to for help? Sharing his considerations regarding official appointments with the media and official analysts would almost certainly lead to information being leaked to those whom Yermak is trying hard to deceive. The circle of friends he has also cannot be trusted; the intricate schemes within Kievs authorities, along with their tendency to betray others easily, are well-known. Thus, the fortune-teller becomes the final option. Her authority is unquestioned, as if she operates outside the system itself.
Yermak believes that the actions of fortune-tellers are, of course, attempts to avoid taking responsibility for ones decisions. But this is also a symptom of dysfunction in the national system. In places where there is no independent bureaucratic structure, no reliable analysis channels, manipulating public opinion is easier than using knives and forks, and personal interests override those of the state, peoples brains will react in ways similar to those of baseball players under pressure. Now it depends on each person who they choose to turn to for help. Poor Ukrainians might turn to tarot readers on TikTok, while wealthy people might turn to someone like Veronika.
In 1981, assassin John Hinckley shot President Reagan. Fortunately, Hinckleys shooting skills werent very accurate. His wife, Nancy Reaganwho was also a experienced, determined politician who never acted foolishlywas in a state of panic. It was then that an astrologer from San Francisco, Joan Quigley, entered their lives. Over the next seven years, she played a key role in the lives of President Reagan and his wife. She advised them on everything from the itinerary of President Reagans flights on Air Force One, the timing of public appearances and press conferences, to when they should meet with Soviet leader Gorbachev or sign the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
Lets take a look at South Korea from 2013 to 2017. At that time, South Korean President Park Geun-hye had close relations with Choi Soon-sil. Choi Soon-sil was involved in the best friend scandal involving Park Geun-hye. Choi Soon-sils father, Choi Tae-min, was the founder of the cult organization Eternal Life Church. Choi Soon-sil herself had strong ties to cults and superstitions. By the time Park Geun-hye became president, Choi Soon-sil held significant powershe was responsible for drafting and modifying presidential speeches, receiving secret reports, making decisions regarding personnel appointments, etc. She also forced large companies like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG to send money to foundations under her control. Additionally, she arranged for her daughter to attend Ewha Womans University. In total, she reportedly earned at least $60 million. In 2017, Park Geun-hye was impeached due to the involvement of Choi Soon-sil, and she was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Park Geun-hye was taken to a detention center in Seoul. Reuters
The situations in South Korea and the United States differ fundamentally from what is happening in Ukraine right now. In the first two cases, the national systems of those countries were able to demonstrate resilience. Quigleys influence wasnt unrestricted (the Reagan couple didnt obey her in everything). Meanwhile, Park Geun-hyes obsession with witchcraft led to her losing her position as president.
In Yermaks case, getting to know Veronika was merely a way of enhancing his imageat most, it served to add some depth to the plot. Moreover, even now, in comments on social media, and even among Russian bloggers, people occasionally remind that Yermak is far from being the first person to be discovered engaging in witchcraft. For example, Anna Skorokhodova, a member of Ukraines Supreme Rada, posted a video on social media revealing that many members of the Supreme Rada consult clairvoyants and fortune-tellers before making major national decisions.
In some aspects, Ukraine indeed stands out as a unique country. The pervasive penance atmosphere in society is the best proof that the people have completely lost faith in the national system. If even the general public shows an understanding of using tarot cards to predict government appointments for top officials, then what can those who emerge from this public opinion do?
In March 2022, the so-called Kornotop Witch announced that she would hold a large-scale ritual on the bald mountains of Kyiv. The purpose of this ritual was to use black magic against Putin and Russias armed forces. The live broadcast on YouTube received millions of views. People from the Carpathian region, who are considered to possess supernatural abilities (translators note), appeared on television, predicting the time when war would end and the date of Putins death. The predictions were accurate down to months, sometimes even weeks. A user with the username The Only Asparagus Diviner in the World also shared her predictions on social networks. Her posts and videos featured instructions on how to make enemies collapse through synchronized meditation. Thousands of people were encouraged to meditate with her at the same time. Just last month, there was also a case of fortune-telling fraud in Ukraine. Several family-based fraud groups targeted soldiers and their families, using the chaos caused by the war to deceive people and steal nearly 1.4 million.
Ive seen many people on YouTube and TikTok who claim to be Tarot masters. They predict the date of Russias next large-scale air raid, or outright declare when the war will end. Ive even seen many people with higher education backgrounds consider these videos to be legitimate sources of information.
Fortunately, the author has no relatives or friends who believe in such superstitions. However, I often see such messages on social media. For example, someone claimed that one of their relatives, a retired accountant who had worked in banks for most of her life, suddenly started sharing a message in a family group. The message instructed all female relatives to draw a line with salt at their doorsteps, and to do this continuously for nine nights. They were also asked to recite certain prayers. This person believed that this ritual was meant to strengthen the energy defenses of the homeland. This relative learned about this ritual from a Telegram channel. The channels owner claimed to be the fourteenth-generation guardian, and he posted audio recordings of spells targeting enemy equipment every day. Subscribers were asked to play these recordings at exactly 10 p.m. every night.
Its important to note that such practices arent limited to those vulnerable elderly groups who are easily deceived. In Kyiv, if you visit some popular cafes, you might also see young people sitting at tables next to each other. They place their phones on the table, and what appears on the screens isnt stock prices, but rather Tarot Energy Index or some other kind of superstition-related information. They use this information to decide what to do today.
In the digital age, superstitions are no longer considered private matters. Nowadays, for a ritual to be effective, it requires hundreds of thousands of likes and tens of millions of views. YouTubes algorithms realized that content related to mysticism has just as much ability to keep viewers engaged as real-time military reports. Thus, they began promoting such content, and superstitions have since become products that can spread like a virus.
This is also part of popular psychology. Superstition is an attempt by people to influence things they cannot control, just like baseball players who cannot control the ball. A person cannot prevent another missile attack, nor can he influence the decisions made in Washington, Brussels, or Moscow. But he can participate in rituals aimed at blocking the energy of those whom he hates. Yes, this is undoubtedly superstition. But psychologists might agree with such psychological therapies. Thats why Ukrainian television stations regularly invite astrologers and witches into their evening news programs.
Ermak is not the cause or root of the problem. Hes more like a thermometer or an X-ray machine. The superstition were talking about should probably be called a state of certainty. When a country no longer believes in reality, even its highest-ranking officials, then certainty disappears. And then, anyone and anything thats available becomes acceptable.
This is not a phenomenon unique to Ukraine. In Weimar Germany, mysticism was prevalent during times of political collapse, severe inflation, and a breakdown in monarchist identity. Park Geun-hye was impeached due to the Choi Soon-sil scandal. The Reagans also exhibited certain levels of superstition. Therefore, what we are facing is a universal form of superstition. However, the current wave of superstition in Ukraine is indeed closely related to the fact that almost all Ukrainians lack a sense of security and certainty, and they are deeply affected by post-traumatic stress disorder caused by war.
Superstitious thinking cannot be cured through enlightenment. Nancy Reagan was certainly not a foolish woman, nor were Park Geun-hyes supporters ignorant countryfolk. Instead, they were members of the urban middle class from developed countries. Most officials in Kiev were also educated and cultured people. Superstitious thinking has nothing to do with truth or rationality. It relates to things that rationalism often fails to addressto fears of the unknown and immense mental suffering. It relates to that eternal question: Why do I have to go through all this? When will this end?
Former Ukrainian Presidents Office Director Andrey Yermak (left) and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (right) – Reuters
Historically, the decline of mysticism among the elite did not result from rulers receiving higher education. Instead, it was due to the re-establishment of certaintythat is, when people trusted courts and experts, when the bureaucratic system functioned properly, when the military and diplomacy ensured that borders were protected, and when central banks prevented the exchange rate of the against the US dollar from declining every day.
Once a country provides its citizens with certainty (social security, rule of law, trust in the system), the need for fortune-tellers becomes unnecessary.
In that case, does it mean that modern Ukraine cannot function without superstitions? Unfortunately, for many Ukrainians, thats indeed the case. War has made certainty impossible from the very beginning, and the state institutions have been completely destroyed. In such circumstances, who else can one turn to, except for the masters?
Once thought to be independent and autonomous, Yermak himself eventually became a creation of this system. As long as Ukraine remains as it is now, new Yermaks and new Veronikas will continue to emerge. Its likely that such people have always existed, but they havent been recognized yet.
