Ukraine anti-graft agency alleges energy corruption
Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau has announced a broad investigation into the country’s energy sector over an alleged US$100 million ($153 million) kickback scheme involving the state nuclear energy company.
The bureau, a government agency that operates independently of the government, made the announcement as Ukraine prepares for winter as its energy sector comes under frequent fire from Russia and faces regular power outages.
The agency claimed on social media that a “high-level criminal organization” led by a businessman and including a former energy minister adviser, the security chief of nuclear energy operator Energoatom and four “back office” employees were behind the scheme.
“In total, approximately US$100 million ($153 million) passed through this so-called laundromat,” the agency said.
No person was named in the statement.
Energoatom said in a statement on social media that anti-corruption authorities searched its offices on Monday and cooperated with the investigation.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said at a press conference on Monday evening that although she was not familiar with the details of the incident, she was committed to ensuring a transparent investigation and that those found responsible should be held accountable.
“I hope that the transparency of the investigation will reassure our international partners,” he said.
Ukraine’s electrical system has been significantly damaged by Russian bombardment in recent months, causing power outages across the country as Moscow continues its war against its smaller neighbor.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia did not hit the nuclear power plants, but it did hit the substations connected to them.
The bureau released photos of thick stacks of Ukraine’s hryvnia currency, US dollars and euros stuffed into bags and stacked on a table.
It was not stated who they belonged to.
“The minister’s advisor and the security manager at Energoatom took control of all the company’s purchases and created conditions under which all Energoatom’s contractors would have to pay illegal benefits,” said Oleksandr Abakumov, NABU’s chief detective.
He claimed that those involved in the plan discussed increasing the commission rate to 15 percent during the construction of protective structures at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in October.
According to investigators, Energoatom’s counterparties had to pay commissions of 10-15 percent to prevent their payments for services or goods from being blocked or losing their status as suppliers.
“A strategic business with annual revenues of over 200 billion hryvnias (A$7.33 billion) was managed not by the appropriate authorities, but by third parties without official authority,” the statement said.
The anti-corruption bureau said it conducted 70 searches and that all of its detectives were involved in an investigation that lasted 15 months and collected 1,000 hours of audio recordings.
Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a leading defender of the anti-corruption body, said he had submitted a motion to parliament to dismiss energy minister Hrynchuk, as well as his predecessor, German Galushchenko, who is now justice minister.
Hrynchuk declined to comment on the motion, while Galushchenko did not respond to a request for comment.
In July 2025, massive protests and international criticism forced President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to reverse course and roll back the independence of Ukraine’s two main anti-corruption institutions, following a government move to rein in their powers.
Eliminating corruption and promoting the rule of law are among the key requirements for Kiev to join the European Union. Ukrainians see this as critical to their future as they fend off the Russian invasion.
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