Ukrainian Energy and Justice Ministers Resign Amid $100 Million Corruption Scandal

Pictured from left to right: The ex-head of Ukraine's state nuclear power company Enerhoatom Petro Kotin, Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Reuters

KYIV — Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers have stepped down following a sweeping investigation into alleged large-scale corruption in the country’s energy sector.

According to reporting from BBC, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday called for the removal of Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, days after anti-corruption agencies accused several individuals of running a $100 million embezzlement scheme involving the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom.

According to investigators, ministers and senior officials — including Halushchenko — allegedly received illicit payments from contractors responsible for constructing fortifications to protect energy infrastructure from Russian attacks. Among those named in the probe are former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and businessman Timur Mindich, a co-owner of Zelensky’s former production studio Kvartal95, who has reportedly fled Ukraine.

Halushchenko vowed to defend himself against the allegations, while Grynchuk wrote on social media that “within the scope of my professional activities there were no violations of the law.”

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) said the 15-month investigation — supported by more than 1,000 hours of audio recordings — revealed that contractors paid between 10% and 15% in kickbacks. Investigators published photos showing bags of cash allegedly laundered through the scheme, with some funds transferred abroad, including to Russia. Prosecutors also linked part of the operation to an office in Kyiv connected to the family of former Ukrainian lawmaker and current Russian senator Andriy Derkach.

NABU has been releasing additional evidence and wiretaps daily and has promised more disclosures to come.

The scandal unfolds amid intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and renewed scrutiny of corruption in Ukraine, an issue that remains deeply rooted despite a decade of efforts by NABU and SAP. In July, nationwide protests erupted after the government attempted to curb the independence of the two agencies, prompting warnings from Ukraine’s European partners and fears the country could jeopardize its EU candidate status.

Zelensky ultimately reversed course, but the incident raised doubts about his commitment to anti-corruption reforms. The latest scandal is likely to heighten those concerns and increase pressure on the government to demonstrate accountability.

Previously, UOJ reported that Zelensky said claims that Ukraine persecutes Christians are "false and manipulative."

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