A former high-ranking official in Ukraine’s energy ministry has been taken into custody as part of a significant anti-corruption operation focusing on the country’s nuclear power sector. The individual, who served as a deputy minister until this past summer and previously held a senior role at the state nuclear energy company Energoatom, is suspected of orchestrating a large-scale embezzlement scheme.
According to law enforcement, the scheme involved artificially inflating the cost of contracts for nuclear damage insurance. The excess budget allocations were allegedly diverted through a network of shell companies, some of which were registered abroad, including in Cyprus. Investigators noted that part of the financial trail led to a Russian holding company, raising additional security concerns during wartime.
The arrest is connected to a broader, long-running investigation that has uncovered an alleged organized network accused of demanding substantial kickbacks from contractors. This probe has previously led to scrutiny of individuals within the presidential administration and business circles.
In a public statement last fall, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the necessity of holding all those involved in corruption to full legal account. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Ukraine’s specialized anti-corruption agencies.
