Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took decisive steps on Wednesday to distance himself from a widening corruption probe that has shaken his administration, calling for the resignation of two cabinet ministers and preparing sanctions against a former business partner implicated in the case.
The president’s intervention follows three days of damaging revelations from a major investigation led by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), marking the most serious corruption allegations faced by his government since taking office.
Ministers Under Pressure
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko suspended Justice Minister German Galushchenko after an emergency cabinet meeting convened to address allegations of corruption in energy infrastructure projects crucial to the country’s wartime defence.
In a video address, Zelenskyy went further, urging both the justice minister and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk to be permanently removed from their positions. Although he did not name them directly, his office confirmed to the Financial Times that he wants both ministers — considered close allies — to step down.
Galushchenko is currently a direct subject of NABU’s investigation. Hrynchuk, while not a suspect, is under mounting criticism over her ministry’s role in approving contracts linked to the scandal.
Allegations Involving Energy Contracts
Investigators allege that contractors working with the state nuclear agency Energoatom were forced to pay illicit kickbacks worth up to 15% of contract values. Several of these contracts were tied to constructing protective structures for substations targeted by Russian missile and drone attacks.
The scandal has intensified public anger, highlighting long-standing concerns about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the war.
Galushchenko, who had already faced calls to resign due to perceived failures in safeguarding critical infrastructure, said he accepted the government’s decision and vowed to defend himself in court.
Focus on Zelenskyy’s Former Business Partner
A key development in the probe is the naming of businessman Timur Mindich — co-owner of the Kvartal 95 entertainment company founded alongside Zelenskyy — as the suspected ringleader of the scheme. Zelenskyy’s office confirmed the president will impose sanctions on Mindich, who reportedly fled Ukraine shortly before authorities raided his properties.
Sanctions are also being prepared against Oleksandr Tsukerman, another associate of Mindich who managed to leave the country before questioning.
The investigation escalated this week after NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) conducted 70 searches, arrested five individuals, and issued seven notices of suspicion following a 15-month inquiry.
Controversial Phone Recording Emerges
During a session of the High Anti-Corruption Court, prosecutors claimed to possess audio in which Zelenskyy appears to join a call involving Galushchenko, Mindich, and Tsukerman. Prosecutors suggested the call related to the corruption scheme. Zelenskyy’s office rejected any implication of wrongdoing, saying it was unclear who was on the call and what the conversation concerned. No allegations have been levelled against the president himself.
Prosecutors also accused Galushchenko of “interceding” on Mindich’s behalf and helping influence financial flows in Ukraine’s energy sector. These claims remain under investigation.
Broader Implications for Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
The European Commission commented that the probe demonstrates the continued functioning and independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions — a key requirement for future EU membership.
Dismissals of senior officials for corruption have been uncommon during wartime. The last major resignation was that of Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov in September 2023, following controversies surrounding military procurement, though he was not personally implicated.
A deputy defence minister was removed earlier that same year in direct connection with a food procurement scandal.
As Ukraine continues to battle Russian aggression, the latest revelations pose a significant political challenge for Zelenskyy, who has sought to project a strong commitment to transparency and accountability even under the pressures of full-scale war.
