Ukrainian authorities arrested a former Energy Minister after discovering he was attempting to flee the country amid Ukraine's intense crackdown on corruption cases.
Foreign news agencies reported, citing the Ukrainian government, that Herman Halushchenko, the former Energy Minister who was removed from office in 2025 following allegations of corruption, was detained while on a train leaving Ukraine. It remains unclear where he intended to go.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said in a statement on Sunday that investigators detained the former Energy Minister "while crossing the country’s border" as part of "Operation Midas."
The statement did not explicitly name Halushchenko, but several leading Ukrainian media outlets identified him. NABU has not provided further details about his detention but said it will update on the investigation's progress.
Radio Free Europe reported that Halushchenko was taken to Kyiv for further questioning after immigration officials were ordered to alert authorities if he attempted to flee.
Halushchenko is among senior Ukrainian officials implicated in a $100 million embezzlement scheme uncovered in November 2025.
This scandal is expected to impact the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who came to power shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion and pledged to eliminate corruption.
Previously, Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff and closest advisor during nearly four years of war, resigned after his home was searched; however, neither he nor the president have been accused of wrongdoing.
The case has increased pressure from the United States on Ukraine to hold postponed elections, which have been suspended since the war began in 2022 in accordance with Ukraine’s constitution.
NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), another Ukrainian anti-corruption agency, said the large-scale investigation under "Operation Midas" is the result of 15 months of inquiry.
The two agencies accuse several individuals of conspiring to embezzle funds within Ukraine’s energy sector, including from Energoatom, the national nuclear operator.
Halushchenko is alleged to have systematically accepted bribes from Energoatom contractors, ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values.
In addition to Halushchenko, former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov was also arrested in November 2025 on charges of "unexplained wealth," following earlier allegations of abuse of power.
Businessman Timur Mindich, co-owner of Kvartal95 television studio, previously associated with Zelensky, fled the country after being named a suspect in corruption investigations.
These allegations of corruption in Ukraine’s energy sector have caused public outrage, especially as the scandal unfolded during intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in power outages and leaving citizens without heating during harsh winter conditions.
Follow international news at:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:BBC