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Ukraine’s Corruption Crisis Where Did the Billions Go?
A $100 million corruption scandal forces two Ukrainian ministers to resign. But this is just the visible part of a much deeper rot.
The Energy Heist That Shook Kyiv
On November 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the resignation of Energy Minister German Galushchenko and Justice Minister Denis Maliuska. Their departure was linked to a massive corruption scheme uncovered by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), an investigation codenamed “Operation Midas.”
The criminal network, composed of current and former energy officials and businessmen, systematically siphoned approximately $100 million from state energy contracts. The method was straightforward but audacious. The group demanded kickbacks of 10–15% on procurement deals, particularly involving the state nuclear company Energoatom. The illicit funds were then laundered through a clandestine office in Kyiv and moved overseas. During nationwide raids, investigators discovered stacks of cash, incriminating documents, and lavish purchases — including a golden toilet — funded by money intended for Ukraine’s war-ravaged energy infrastructure.
