Halushchenko previously served as Energy Minister of Ukraine from 2021 to July 2025.Image: keystone
November 12, 2025, 08:07November 12, 2025, 1:55 p.m
Ukrainian Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko has been relieved of his duties following searches related to corruption investigations. The government decided this in an extraordinary meeting, said Prime Minister Yulia Swyrydenko on Telegram.
Former Energy Minister Halushchenko is one of several suspects in an unprecedented corruption scandal in Ukraine under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelensky. There had been searches at Halushchenko’s house the day before. He has been justice minister since July.
There had been searches at Halushchenko’s house the day before. He has been justice minister since July. Halushchenko wrote on Telegram that he agreed with Zvyrydenko. He wrote that he believes removal for the duration of an investigation is a civilized and correct course of action. He also announced that he wanted to defend himself legally and explain his position. Several former and current members of the government are affected by the investigation, including ex-deputy prime minister Olexij Chernyshov, who is considered a close confidant of Zelensky.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Svyrydenko.Image: EPA
His ministry in Kyiv had confirmed the investigative work. Halushchenko fully supports the law enforcement authorities, it said in a statement the day before. The Ministry of Justice consistently adheres to the principle of zero tolerance for corruption.. No details were given about possible allegations.
Suspicion of money laundering in the millions
The National Anti-Corruption Office and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) of Ukraine had previously announced investigations into the Energoatom company. It’s about bribes that are said to have flowed into the construction of protective devices around energy systems against Russian air strikes. On Tuesday, the anti-corruption office reported five arrests and seven suspected cases. The group is said to have laundered around $100 million (86.4 million euros) in bribes.
At the center of the investigation is Selenskyj’s long-time companion Tymur Minditsch. He not only exerted influence on Halushchenko, but also on former Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov, as public prosecutor Serhii Savytskyj said, according to media reports. In a statement, Umjerow admitted contacts with Minditsch, but strictly rejected allegations of corruption.
Rustem Umyerov.Image: keystone
According to Ukrainian media, Minditsch could also have done illegal business and enriched himself in the armaments industry, which is important for Ukraine. He is said to have fled abroad after receiving a tip about an impending house search. According to media reports, he is in Israel.
Zelensky’s confidant is considered the main suspect
Minditsch is a confidant and business partner of President Zelenskyj from his days as an actor. The main suspect influenced state decisions “in the energy and armaments sectors”.it said. Minditsch is said to have left Ukraine. Zelensky demanded that guilty people should be convicted regardless of their character.
Energoatom spoke of an “incident” that had no impact on the company’s financial stability, electricity production and the safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Nevertheless, it appears to be the biggest bribery scandal in Ukraine during the war against the attacker from Russia, which has lasted more than three and a half years. Despite reforms, the country aspiring to join the EU is still considered one of the states in Europe most susceptible to corruption.
So far, Zelenskyj has only briefly commented on the investigations against Energoatom in his evening video message, without going into details or names. Guilty people should be convicted, he said. At the same time, he called on government officials to cooperate with NABU investigators.
Energoatom has special significance for Ukraine
Energoatom spoke of an “incident” that had no impact on the company’s financial stability, electricity production and the safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. The state-owned company is considered particularly important because the majority of energy production in the country comes from nuclear power plants.
The energy industry is particularly in focus during the cold season because many systems have been damaged or destroyed by Russian drone and missile attacks. The scandal comes at an inopportune time for the Ukrainian leadership because many people are sitting in the cold and darkness while officials are said to have enriched themselves through illegal transactions.
Minditsch and a business partner who was friends with him are said to have received between 10 and 15 percent on orders from Energoatom and then laundered the money through a network of companies. According to NABU, money is said to have flowed abroad, including to Russia.
It appears to be the biggest bribery scandal in Ukraine during the war against the attacker from Russia, which has lasted more than three and a half years. Despite reforms, the country aspiring to join the EU is still considered one of the states in Europe most susceptible to corruption.
Biggest case for NABU investigators
The case is considered the most important and largest to date for the NABU investigators. Thousands of people demonstrated for the authority’s independence in the summer after Zelensky wanted to put the NABU and the SAP under political control in an urgent procedure. There were already fears among many in Ukraine that Zelensky might be pursuing his own interests in order to protect those around him. Under pressure from the EU, he corrected his decision and gave the authorities back their independence.
Already in the summer, the names of Zelensky’s confidants Minditsch and former deputy prime minister Chernyshov were mentioned as part of the crackdown on the independence of the authorities. (sda/dpa)