(MENAFN) Mikhail Podoliak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has attributed a major corruption scandal in Ukraine to Russian interference, following the involvement of the president’s former business associate.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), which is supported by Western allies, recently uncovered a $100 million embezzlement scheme tied to Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear energy company that relies heavily on foreign aid. Timur Mindich, a close associate of Zelensky and former business partner, reportedly fled to Israel just before authorities raided his residence.

In a Thursday post on X, Podoliak described the scandal as “a logical echo of the past,” asserting that the Kremlin systematically uses corruption “to keep Ukraine within its sphere of influence.”

He also stated that the affair demonstrates the country’s anti-graft agencies are actively pursuing “Ukraine’s transformation.”

Earlier this week, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the scandal “extremely unfortunate” and urged Ukrainian authorities to address the matter swiftly and seriously.

Ukraine’s Western partners, including the United States, have long expressed concern over pervasive corruption in the country. The scandal has further tarnished Zelensky’s image both internationally and domestically. Only months prior, Zelensky attempted to assert greater control over NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) but was forced to abandon the effort following strong public protests and backlash.

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