(MENAFN) Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have launched a large-scale investigation into alleged graft in the country’s energy sector, targeting a “high-level criminal organization,” authorities said on Monday. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), reported that the probe involved 15 months of investigative work and over 1,000 hours of recorded surveillance.

The investigation centers on strategic state enterprises, particularly the national nuclear operator Energoatom. NABU said the alleged scheme involved kickbacks amounting to 10–15% of contract values, with around $100 million passing through the network. Those implicated reportedly included an energy ministry adviser and a former law enforcement officer who led Energoatom’s security, though no names were publicly released.

Authorities conducted 70 searches, including at the homes of high-profile figures such as Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, a former energy minister. Lawmakers have since submitted draft bills seeking the dismissal of Halushchenko and current Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. Energoatom said it is fully cooperating with investigators to ensure transparency.

SAPO also established a commission to investigate a potential leak of pre-trial information from NABU and SAPO.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an evening address, emphasized the importance of accountability, saying: “Everyone who has built corrupt schemes must face a clear procedural response… There must be convictions.” Hrynchuk expressed commitment to a transparent investigation, noting that it should reassure international partners and not hinder foreign assistance.

The probe comes months after Zelenskyy reinstated the independence of NABU and SAPO, reversing earlier measures that placed them under the prosecutor general. Analysts say that tackling corruption is vital for Ukraine’s EU accession aspirations, which formally began in June 2024, though progress has been complicated by the ongoing war with Russia.

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