- A major corruption scandal of over 100 million dollars has been unearthed in Ukraine’s energy sector, involving government officials and ministers, including many in Zelensky’s close circle.
- The Anti-Corruption Bureau has named businessman and oligarch Timur Mindich, co-owner of Kvartal 95 Studio, close to Zelensky and who had supported his Presidential campaign in 2019.
- About six months ago, Zelensky introduced a provision that significantly reduced the powers and fundamental authorities of the Anti-Corruption Institutions.
- Citizens argue that the president cannot use the war as a pretext to continue the corruption that has plagued Ukraine for years.
A major corruption scandal has been exposed in Ukraine, a country that has been at war for the last three years. This development has triggered a significant domestic political storm. It has raised serious questions about President Zelensky’s authority, who is already confronting multiple crises at a time when Ukraine is struggling on the battlefield and working to secure sustained Western support. At such a critical moment, the last thing the president would have wanted was a domestic political fallout, but unfortunately, a highly sensitive revelation has now emerged in Ukraine.
The controversy began around six months ago when the president introduced a highly controversial provision that curtailed the powers of the Anti-Corruption Institutions. These institutions were stripped of several of their fundamental authorities. The move was so contentious that even Ukraine’s Western allies criticised it, describing it as an erosion of democratic values within the country. They argued that independent institutions were under threat and that governance could not be excessively centralised.
However, the Security Service of Ukraine, called the SBU, conducted an investigation into the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and found that several pro-Russian individuals were linked to the Anti-Corruption Institutions. The SBU claimed that these institutions had ties with pro-Russian politicians and businessmen, and that Russian influence had penetrated deeply within them. Supporting the SBU’s findings, President Zelensky argued that the Anti-Corruption Institutions must be cleared of Russian influence. This further intensified the long-running tug of war between the presidency and the independent institutions of Ukraine.
It is important to note that this is not the first time Ukraine’s independent institutions have been under threat. Ever since Zelensky came to power, he has repeatedly targeted democratic institutions, including the free press and investigative bodies. Many of them have been centralised or disbanded. After the 2022 war began, President Zelensky repeatedly used the war as a justification to silence democratic voices. While he describes himself as a champion of democracy and a leader of the democratic world, critics argue that his actions contradict his own public claims.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau did not remain silent. Facing disputes with the presidency and attempts to undermine the institution, they came forward with one of the most sensational revelations. They named Timur Mindich, a businessman and oligarch very close to Zelensky’s inner circle. Mindich is the co-owner of Kvartal 95 Studio, where Zelensky worked before entering politics. He also supported Zelensky’s 2019 presidential campaign by providing him with an armoured car. Their closeness is evident from the fact that Zelensky celebrated Mindich’s birthday in 2021 in an apartment owned by him.
Under Zelensky, Mindich has allegedly received a series of notable political and institutional favours. Kvartal 95 Studio has now become a major defence procurement entity, controlling nearly 10% of Ukraine’s defence production spending despite having no military background or prior experience in the sector. This clearly suggests the close nexus between Zelensky and the controversial oligarch Mindich.
The Anti-Corruption Institution also named former Energy Minister turned Justice Minister German Galushchenko, who has now been dismissed after the sensational revelations. A major corruption scandal of over 100 million dollars has been exposed in Ukraine’s energy sector. Government officials and businessmen close to power used the state-owned Energoatom, Ukraine’s largest electricity provider, for illegal enrichment. Private companies allegedly paid kickbacks to officials in exchange for contracts with Energoatom. The illegal money was then laundered through offshore financial networks.
Even current government officials and ministers within Zelensky’s close circle have been named. These include the former Defence Minister, the Secretary of the Security Council Rustem Umerov, Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko, Energy Minister Herman Grinchuk, and even Zelensky’s wife, Olena Zelenskaya. All of them have been accused of being part of a wide-ranging corruption network.
This scandal has caused a major political storm in Ukraine. Zelensky’s approval rating, which earlier stood at around 40%, has now dropped to 28%. Massive protests are now taking place, with people demanding transparency and accountability. Citizens argue that the president cannot use the war as a pretext to continue the corruption that has plagued Ukraine for years. At a time when the cost of living is high, when Ukraine is at war, when there is no major source of employment, and when ordinary people are suffering, the political and business elites continue to benefit. This has created significant public anger and deepened distrust.
The political opposition has also seized the moment. Three major opposition parties, Holos, Fatherland, and European Solidarity, have united and declared that the government should resign, calling it unfit to govern Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Union and Western countries like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have urged Ukraine to ensure transparency and conduct a full investigation. They have also praised the Anti-Corruption Institutions for resisting political pressure. It is important to understand that corruption has always been a central issue in Ukrainian politics. Ukraine is widely regarded as one of the most corrupt capitals of Europe, which remains one of the key reasons why it has not been granted full-fledged European Union membership. This latest scandal reinforces that argument.
Additionally, Zelensky is accused of using martial law as a pretext to stay in power. His presidential term ended in May 2024, yet he continues to rule without elections, claiming that elections cannot be held during wartime. Critics also point out corruption allegations involving his wife and even reports of a luxury villa purchased near the Red Sea in Egypt in 2023. Many believe Zelensky is using the war to avoid accountability and maintain power.
Zelensky’s wartime strategy has also drawn growing criticism. Detractors argue that his administration lacks a coherent path toward ending the conflict. Although he enacted a measure prohibiting negotiations with Russia, many observers contend that a resolution is impossible without diplomatic engagement. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure in the Donetsk region, while uncertainties over continued Western financial support and increasing domestic political friction further complicate the government’s position.
Even Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has argued that Ukraine must reduce the mobilisation age from 25 to 22 because most soldiers at the front are either dying or unable to continue fighting. Russia shows no signs of ending the war and demands that Ukraine accept the current frontlines and provide security guarantees, which Ukraine rejects.
As time passes, both Ukraine and the United States are under mounting pressure to identify a viable path toward ending the conflict. Russia’s tough stance, Ukraine’s internal crisis, and declining Western support have created one of the most challenging situations for the Ukrainian leadership.
In the coming months, much will depend on how Ukraine navigates these overlapping domestic and international pressures and whether it can move toward a negotiated resolution or risks sliding into deeper political instability.
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
Hridbina Chatterjee 
Raghvendra Tripathi