Ukrainian anti-graft prosecutors said a former energy minister has been detained as a suspect in a major kickback investigation involving alleged money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation. Authorities did not publicly name the official but said he served as energy minister from 2021 to 2025 and was detained over the weekend while attempting to leave Ukraine.
Alleged $100 Million Kickback Scheme
The case forms part of the so-called “Midas” scandal, centred on an alleged $100-million kickback operation tied to the state atomic energy sector. Investigators say the criminal network generated more than $112 million in illicit cash through energy-sector activities during the minister’s tenure.
Fallout Reaches Political Elite
The scandal has already forced the resignation of Ukraine’s previous two energy ministers and reportedly contributed to the departure of a senior presidential aide linked to the controversy. Individuals associated with the case, including a former associate of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have denied wrongdoing.
International Cooperation in Probe
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau said evidence gathered domestically and through cooperation with authorities in multiple countries helped build the case, underscoring the cross-border financial dimensions of the alleged scheme.
Anti-Corruption Drive Under Scrutiny
The high-profile investigation highlights Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to combat entrenched corruption in strategic sectors, particularly energy, which remains central to state revenue and national security as the country navigates wartime pressures and its bid for deeper integration with Western institutions.
With information from Reuters.
