Zelenskyy orders key ministers out over energy sector corruption

(MENAFN) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the resignation of his country’s energy and justice ministers on Wednesday following a $100 million corruption investigation targeting the energy sector. On the same day, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk submitted her resignation, while Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko was suspended from his duties.

“The minister of justice and the minister of energy cannot remain in office. This is, among other things, a matter of trust. If there are accusations, they must be addressed,” Zelenskyy said in a video address. He added that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko would ensure both officials formally step down and urged lawmakers to support the resignations, emphasizing that further actions should proceed within the legal framework.

Zelenskyy also announced a “cleansing and reset” of the management at national nuclear energy provider Energoatom, promising to sign a decree imposing sanctions on two individuals implicated in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) case linked to the firm.

Hrynchuk, posting on social media, confirmed her resignation and thanked Zelenskyy for the opportunity to serve. She denied any legal violations in her professional activities and dismissed speculation about personal matters.

Halushchenko, who previously served as energy minister, agreed with his suspension and said he would legally defend himself. Deputy Justice Minister Liudmyla Sugak has temporarily assumed his duties. Later, Halushchenko also submitted his resignation, which the prime minister confirmed has been forwarded to the Verkhovna Rada for parliamentary consideration.

The probe, launched Monday, targets a high-level criminal organization seeking to extract 10–15% of state contract values from strategic enterprises, including Energoatom. NABU said its 15-month investigation involved 1,000 hours of audio recordings, resulting in the detention of five individuals and the issuance of notices of suspicion to seven others. The agency reported uncovering $100 million linked to the scheme.

The crackdown comes shortly after Zelenskyy reinstated the independence of Ukraine’s two major anti-corruption bodies following public protests that reversed earlier measures placing them under the prosecutor general’s oversight. Observers note that combating corruption remains a key condition for advancing Ukraine’s EU membership bid, which formally began negotiations in June 2024, though ongoing conflict with Russia has complicated reform efforts.

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