Ukraine's energy and justice ministers have resigned in the wake of a major investigation into corruption in the country's energy sector. President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko's removal on Wednesday. On Monday, anti-corruption bodies accused several individuals of orchestrating an embezzlement scheme in the energy sector worth about $100 million (£76 million), including at the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom. Some of those implicated are or have been close associates of Zelensky. The allegation is that Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and other key ministers and officials received payments from contractors building fortifications against Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
Prominent figures alleged to be involved include former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and businessman Timur Mindich, co-owner of Zelensky's former TV studio Kvartal95, who has reportedly fled the country. Halushchenko stated he would defend himself against the accusations, while Grynchuk claimed that there were no legal violations in her professional activities.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) revealed that the investigation, which lasted 15 months and included 1,000 hours of audio recordings, exposed the involvement of several government members who systematically collected kickbacks from Enerhoatom contractors, with amounts ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values.
NABU also reported on money laundering involving cash being sent outside Ukraine, including to Russia. Prosecutors pointed a finger at an office in Kyiv linked to Andriy Derkach, a Russian senator and former Ukrainian lawmaker. As the anti-corruption bodies periodically reveal details of their investigations, the scandal shines a new light on persistent corruption issues within Ukraine, a nation striving for EU candidate status amidst increasing Russian aggression.
The recent events pose significant questions about Zelensky's commitment to reforming Ukrainian governance, especially following criticism surrounding previous limitations on anti-corruption institutions. The backlash to these measures marked one of the most severe crises the Zelensky government has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Prominent figures alleged to be involved include former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and businessman Timur Mindich, co-owner of Zelensky's former TV studio Kvartal95, who has reportedly fled the country. Halushchenko stated he would defend himself against the accusations, while Grynchuk claimed that there were no legal violations in her professional activities.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) revealed that the investigation, which lasted 15 months and included 1,000 hours of audio recordings, exposed the involvement of several government members who systematically collected kickbacks from Enerhoatom contractors, with amounts ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values.
NABU also reported on money laundering involving cash being sent outside Ukraine, including to Russia. Prosecutors pointed a finger at an office in Kyiv linked to Andriy Derkach, a Russian senator and former Ukrainian lawmaker. As the anti-corruption bodies periodically reveal details of their investigations, the scandal shines a new light on persistent corruption issues within Ukraine, a nation striving for EU candidate status amidst increasing Russian aggression.
The recent events pose significant questions about Zelensky's commitment to reforming Ukrainian governance, especially following criticism surrounding previous limitations on anti-corruption institutions. The backlash to these measures marked one of the most severe crises the Zelensky government has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
