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Courts have detained five suspects while President Zelenskyy sanctioned two businessmen who fled Ukraine hours before raids in the expanding $100 million Energoatom corruption probe.
The scandal strikes at a particularly vulnerable moment. Ukraine generates over half its electricity from nuclear power after Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia plant, while citizens endure 12-hour blackouts from systematic Russian infrastructure strikes. The alleged theft—equivalent to 27 Patriot missiles or 40,000 interceptor drones—occurred while contractors built defenses for facilities under active bombardment, raising questions whether corruption functioned as simple enrichment or deliberate sabotage benefiting Moscow.
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) 10 November revelations based on 15 months of surveillance, two cabinet ministers have resigned, the government has dissolved Energoatom’s supervisory board, and authorities have announced comprehensive audits of all state enterprises.
Courts detain five suspects as investigation expands
Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court has ordered pre-trial detention for five individuals connected to the scheme, with bail options ranging from UAH12 million ($285.5K) to UAH126 million ($3.0M).
The court detained:
Ihor Myroniuk, former adviser to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, with bail set at $3 million. Prosecutors identified Myroniuk, codenamed “Rocket” in surveillance recordings, as having taken control of Energoatom’s procurement processes alongside the company’s security director.
Dmytro Basov, Energoatom’s former executive director for physical protection, faces 60 days detention with $951.7K bail.
The court also detained three back office employees allegedly involved in money laundering: Liudmyla Zorina $285.5K Lesia Ustymenko $594.8K, and Ihor Fursenko.
Zelenskyy imposes sanctions on fleeing suspects
On 13 November, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed a decree imposing sanctions on two individuals implicated in the NABU case concerning Energoatom. As of the latest reports, these two individuals are:
Timur Mindich: A businessman and close associate of President Zelenskyy, as well as a co-owner of the president’s former production company, Kvartal 95. NABU investigators allege he was the main organizer of the corruption scheme.
Oleksandr Tsukerman: A businessman alleged to have led the “back office” used for laundering the illicit funds (reportedly around $100 million).
Reportedly, both are citizens of Israel and fled Ukraine just hours before NABU detectives arrived to search.
The sanctions, in force for three years, include:
Revocation of state awards of Ukraine
Asset blocking in Ukraine
Restrictions on trade operations
Prevention of capital withdrawal from Ukraine
Suspension of economic and financial obligations
Termination or suspension of licenses and permits
Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk clarified the decision “provides for a full standard package, including the blocking of assets on the territory of Ukraine, regardless of the citizenship of the persons to whom they are applied,” Interfax noted.
Energoatom supervisory board sacked, ministers announce resignation
The immediate political fallout has been swift, as President Zelenskyy in his address called for the dismissal of two ministers linked to the energy portfolio. Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who previously served as Energy Minister, and current Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk both tendered their resignations on 12 November. The Ukrainian Parliament is expected to vote on their dismissal on Tuesday, 18 November.
The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture will submit proposals for a new Energoatom Supervisory Board within one week, working in cooperation with G7 partner countries, Ukrinform reported. The previous board was dissolved on 11 November after the Cabinet of Ministers deemed its work unsatisfactory.
“At the direction of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, in cooperation with G7 partners, will submit proposals to the government within the week for the new composition of the Supervisory Board,” the ministry announced. An international advisory firm has been appointed to assist the selection process.
The State Audit Service has launched a comprehensive audit of Energoatom, with procurement review to be completed within 15 working days and a full company audit within 90 days. The findings will be forwarded to law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
Prime Minister Svyrydenko on 13 November announced Ukraine will conduct audits of all state-owned companies. “Eradicating corruption is a matter of honor and, most importantly, dignity. We bear responsibility before our defenders,” she commented.
Ukraine Energoatom scandal investigation expands to examine Russian links
Some Ukrainian analysts view the scandal through a different lens—as potential evidence of Russian penetration rather than simple enrichment.
Olena Tregub, a prominent anti-corruption advocate, argued that the money-laundering schemes in the energy sector lead back to Andriy Derkach—an officially designated Russian agent and former Ukrainian politician now serving in Russia’s parliament. Members of his network were employed inside Energoatom and participated in the alleged corruption scheme.
“This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: were these officials stealing money simply to enrich themselves and buy luxury properties abroad—or were they intentionally weakening Ukraine?” Tregub wrote. The consequences include increased blackout risks and degraded defense capabilities, which would directly benefit Russia.
The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a separate investigation into Mindich for “assistance to an aggressor state” based on allegations about operations in Russia during the full-scale invasion.
Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) announced on 10 November it launched a service inspection after being mentioned in NABU’s published materials. The agency sent an official request to NABU for relevant information and confirmed readiness for “maximum cooperation with the public, media, law enforcement, and other parties.”
“No room for corruption”: the view from Brussels and Berlin
The scandal has sent shockwaves to Ukraine’s Western partners, who are pumping billions of dollars in financial and military aid into the country. The reaction from European capitals has been one of severe consternation.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Canada, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed the urgency of the situation around the Energoatom scandal. “There is no room for corruption, especially now. I mean, it is literally the people’s money that should go to the front lines,” Kallas said. “I think what is very important that they really proceed with this very fast and take it very seriously,” she added.
The European Commission, which is overseeing Ukraine’s complex EU accession process, is reportedly monitoring the government’s response closely.
This is particularly true for Germany, which has been a major supporter of Ukraine’s energy sector. German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told DW that Berlin is concerned about reports involving “a sector that receives considerable support from Germany.” The government will “very closely monitor developments,” he said.
While expressing concern, Kornelius also offered a guarded note of trust: “at the moment we have confidence in the Ukrainian government that it will ensure this be cleared up… and in the anti-corruption authority that it will lay bare this case and it will be brought to a transparent conclusion.”
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