Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday called for the resignation of two key Cabinet ministers amid a $100 million corruption probe into the country's energy sector. The same day they were both sidelined, with the energy minister announcing her resignation letter and the justice minister suspended from duty.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy stated in an evening video address that the ministers of justice and energy could not remain in office due to the allegations against them. He emphasized the importance of addressing these accusations to maintain trust. Zelenskyy instructed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to ensure the resignations were submitted and urged lawmakers to support this decision, stressing the need for the process to follow legal protocols.
Zelenskyy also announced plans for a "cleansing and reset" of the management of the national nuclear energy provider, Energoatom. He mentioned an upcoming decree to impose sanctions on two individuals implicated in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) case concerning the firm, without providing further details.
Following the announcement, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk stated on Facebook that she had written her resignation letter, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the state. She denied any legal violations in her professional activities and dismissed speculations about her personal relationships.
Meanwhile, the government suspended Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko. Prime Minister Svyrydenko announced, via US social media platform X, that Deputy Justice Minister Liudmyla Sugak had assumed the duties of justice minister. Halushchenko, who previously served as energy minister, agreed with the suspension, stating that he would legally defend himself and considered the suspension a civilized response during the investigation. Svyrydenko later confirmed Halushchenko's resignation submission to the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada.
The corruption probe, initiated on Monday, is a large-scale operation targeting graft in the energy sector. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau described uncovering a high-level criminal organization influencing strategic state enterprises, particularly Energoatom. The investigation, which spanned 15 months and included 1,000 hours of audio recordings, involved the detention of five individuals and sent notes of suspicion to seven others. Approximately $100 million was reportedly involved in the scheme.
This investigation follows Zelenskyy's reversal of a previous decision to place the country's major anti-corruption agencies under the prosecutor general's oversight, a move that sparked significant protests. The crackdown on corruption is seen as crucial for Ukraine's efforts to join the European Union, which began accession negotiations with Kyiv in June 2024. Critics argue that corruption has been a persistent issue in Kyiv, with the ongoing conflict with Russia overshadowing anti-corruption efforts.