Ukraine’s government suspends Justice Minister amid energy corruption investigation.
London-UK, November 13, 2025
Anti-Graft Blitz: Ukraine’s Government Suspends Justice Minister Amid Energy Corruption Investigation
Ukraine’s government has launched a high-profile anti-graft blitz, resulting in the suspension and subsequent resignation call for Justice Minister German Galushchenko, amid an energy corruption investigation.
The sweeping probe, led by Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption bodies, centers on an alleged $100 million kickback scheme involving fraudulent contracts signed by the state nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
Galushchenko, who was the Energy Minister until July, was immediately suspended by the Prime Minister’s office, a decision later hardened by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who publicly called for both the Justice Minister and the current Energy Minister to step down as a “matter of trust.”
The swift action underscores Kyiv’s critical need to demonstrate its commitment to tackling pervasive corruption, particularly in the vital energy sector, as it continues to seek Western financial and military support.
Headline Points: The Investigation and Political Fallout
The Scandal:
The probe by Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies centers on an alleged $100 million kickback scheme involving contracts signed by the state nuclear energy company, Energoatom.
The Accused:
Justice Minister German Galushchenko was suspended due to his previous role as Energy Minister until July, during which time the scheme allegedly operated.
Presidential Demand:
President Volodymyr Zelensky later called for both Galushchenko and the current Energy Minister to resign, emphasizing that public trust demanded their removal.
The Charges:
Seven individuals have been charged so far, with prosecutors alleging one of the indicted individuals leveraged his relationship with the then-Energy Minister (Galushchenko) to engage in criminal activities.
The Context:
The corruption investigation comes at a politically sensitive time, as Ukraine is heavily reliant on Western aid and faces public anger over persistent energy shortages and blackouts ahead of winter.
Minister’s Response:
Galushchenko endorsed the decision to suspend him, stating he would “defend myself and prove my case in the legal arena,” though he did not fully detail the charges against him.
The $100 Million Kickback Scheme
The energy corruption investigation was announced by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The core of the alleged scheme is a series of fraudulent contracts within Energoatom, the state nuclear energy monopoly.
Prosecutors estimate the perpetrators netted roughly $100 million in kickbacks by inflating the cost of contracts and diverting funds.
The direct link to the political establishment was confirmed with the suspension of Justice Minister German Galushchenko. Although the initial probe did not directly name him in the indictments, the prosecutor’s office stated that one of the indicted individuals “used his relationship with the then-energy minister” to facilitate the criminal activities.
Given Galushchenko’s tenure as the Energy Minister during the period of the alleged kickbacks, the political damage was immediate and severe.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced the suspension, but President Zelensky went further, publicly calling for Galushchenko and his successor, Svitlana Grynchuk, to step down immediately.
Zelensky stated on his Telegram channel that the ministers “could not remain in their positions” as a “matter of trust,” underscoring the political imperative to act quickly and decisively in the face of major corruption allegations.
Maintaining Trust for Western Support
The anti-graft blitz is not just an internal political necessity but a strategic requirement for Ukraine’s long-term survival. The nation relies heavily on financial and military aid from the European Union, the United States, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
These Western partners have made the vigorous fight against corruption a key condition for continued support, viewing it as essential for the country’s reform agenda and democratic integrity.
The scandal over the $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector is particularly damaging. It involves funds potentially diverted from a state-owned company in a sector that is already struggling to provide stable electricity to the population, which faces daily blackouts and the looming threat of winter.
The public is highly sensitive to such corruption when they are enduring daily hardships and the sacrifice of war.
By swiftly moving to suspend and call for the Justice Minister’s resignation, Ukraine’s government is attempting to send a clear message:
that no official, regardless of their position, is above the law. The pressure now falls on the independent anti-corruption agencies to deliver a transparent, politically unimpeded investigation and prosecution of all those involved in the energy corruption investigation to ensure that the necessary element of public and international trust can be restored.
