Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers resign over alleged $100 million kickback scheme, triggering public anger during Russian energy attacks
KYIV: Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers resigned on Wednesday over their alleged involvement in a sweeping corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector.
The government announced the departures of Justice Minister German Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk following corruption allegations.
Investigators alleged a key ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky orchestrated a $100 million kickback scheme to siphon off funds.
“The minister of justice and the minister of energy cannot remain in their positions,” Zelensky said in a video posted on social media.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed both ministers had submitted resignation letters shortly after Zelensky’s statement.
The scandal has triggered public anger among Ukrainians suffering frequent heating and electricity outages from Russian attacks.
“It’s disgusting,” said Davyd, a 24-year-old content creator who declined to give his surname.
“They’re destroying us, our reputation, and our future.”
The allegations centre on kickbacks from contracts involving Energoatom, the state nuclear operator and country’s most important electricity provider.
Svyrydenko announced the government “decided to urgently suspend” the vice president of Energoatom, ordering the company to also suspend several other top officials.
Investigators say the scheme was masterminded by Timur Mindich, a former business associate of Zelensky and co-owner of the production company Kvartal 95.
Mindich fled the country shortly before the allegations were announced on Monday, according to the state border service.
Prime Minister Svyrydenko said she was imposing personal sanctions on Mindich and another businessman charged, Oleksandr Tsukerman.
Zelensky described the situation as “absolutely unacceptable that there are still some schemes in the energy sector” while Ukrainians suffer daily outages.
Ukraine’s parliament needs to formally approve both ministerial resignations.
The opposition party of former president Petro Poroshenko called for the entire government to resign.
Anti-corruption officials have detained several people in the ongoing operation this week.
Olena Boikova, a 57-year-old retiree, expressed “indignation” and called those implicated “internal enemies.”
The scandal presents a major test for Zelensky, who faces accusations of centralising power and silencing critics since the Russian invasion.
Ukraine has long been plagued by corruption, with cracking down on graft seen as a key requirement for its bid to join the European Union. – AFP
