Ukrainian Officials Resign Amid $100 Million Corruption Probe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has faced a significant challenge as two senior officials from his government resigned on November 12, 2025, amid a burgeoning corruption scandal involving an alleged $100 million kickback scheme. The scandal centers around the state-owned nuclear power company, Energoatom, which is now under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption agencies.

Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko confirmed via X that both Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk stepped down in response to the ongoing fallout. In addition to their resignations, the government has suspended several senior officials within Energoatom as part of the corruption probe.

The investigation, identified as Operation “Midas,” is being led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). According to these agencies, the operation has uncovered a “large-scale corruption scheme” that allegedly involved a criminal organization systematically receiving kickbacks from Energoatom’s contractors, amounting to between 10% and 15% of the total contract value.

The investigation revealed that contractors felt compelled to pay these kickbacks to avoid having their payments blocked or losing their supplier status. The accused organization is said to have maintained a “laundry” office in Kyiv, which reportedly belonged to the family of former Ukrainian lawmaker and current Russian senator Andrii Derkach. This office allegedly facilitated the laundering of around $100 million through non-resident companies.

Five individuals have been detained, and another seven, including a former advisor to the Minister of Energy, are under suspicion. The scandal emerges during a period of heightened vulnerability for Ukraine, as the country continues to face intensified attacks from Russia on its energy infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages.

In light of the ongoing crisis, Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker from Zelenskyy’s party, expressed concerns about the implications of the scandal. He stated, “Internally this scandal will be used to undermine unity and stability within the country. Externally, our enemies will use it as an argument to stop aid to Ukraine.” Merezhko emphasized the negative impact the revelations could have on Ukraine’s international relations, particularly with European and American partners.

Zelenskyy has publicly supported the investigations conducted by Ukraine’s law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies. In a statement on X, he condemned the corruption, stating, “It is absolutely unacceptable that, amid all this, there are also some schemes in the energy sector.” The president announced his intention to impose sanctions on two individuals implicated in the Energoatom case, underscoring his commitment to accountability.

As Ukraine grapples with both external threats and internal challenges, the focus remains on restoring confidence in its government institutions while ensuring that those responsible for corruption are held accountable. The ramifications of this scandal may extend beyond immediate resignations, potentially influencing Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to secure international support during a critical period of conflict.