A groundbreaking corruption scandal has struck Ukraine, with more than $100 million stolen from the country’s energy sector, according to an investigation. The money was supposed to be used to safeguard critical infrastructure against continued Russian missile strikes, but it was misused, investigators say, by influential officials and businessmen.
Operation Midas: The Investigation
The operation, code-named Midas, was led by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau, or NABU, and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, or SAPO, and lasted 15 months.
Authorities unveiled a “criminal organization” operating within Energoatom, the state-run nuclear energy company. According to NABU, contracts were deliberately inflated by 10–15%, and kickbacks were funneled through a hidden office in Kyiv.
Key facts:
• Over 70 raids were conducted.
• 1,000+ hours of phone recordings were reviewed
• Bags of cash were seized
• 5 out of 7 key suspects are now in custody
High-Level Officials Implicated
Several prominent figures are under investigation:
• German Galushchenko, Justice Minister and former Energy Minister, was suspended on suspicion of involvement. He denies wrongdoing but agreed to step down during the probe.
• Tymur Mindich, longtime associate of President Zelenskyy, is believed to have led the scheme.
• Oleksiy Chernyshov, former Deputy Prime Minister, was identified under the alias “Che Guevara” in surveillance files. He’s accused of receiving $1.3 million in illegal payments.
• Other former senior officials named include Ihor Myroniuk and Dmytro Basov, who both deny all allegations.
Separate Investigation at the Defense Ministry
In a closely related case, NABU is investigating suspicious deals in military procurement. The former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, currently the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, was questioned concerning a failed deal with low-quality Chinese body armor.
Umerov confirmed he met with Mindich but said no payment was made and the contract was canceled. He has not been charged and maintains his innocence.
Zelenskyy Under Political Pressure
The scandal comes as Ukraine struggles with widespread blackouts perpetrated by Russian attacks; it has outraged the public to learn that critical energy funds were allegedly pilfered.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, elected on an anti-corruption platform, promised swift justice. “The inevitability of punishment is necessary,” he said in a national address.
With billions in aid from the U.S. and EU contingent on governance reforms, Ukraine’s next steps will be closely watched by international partners.
What Happens Next?
Analysts say it could either show Ukraine’s commitment to transparency or reveal deeper cracks in Ukraine’s wartime leadership. All eyes are on whether the legal system will be able to hold those responsible accountable.
