Ukraine's anti-corruption agency on Monday accused former energy minister Herman Halushchenko of laundering millions of dollars in kickbacks, a day after he was detained while trying to leave the country. The case, known as 'Midas', revolves around an alleged £73.5m ($100m) bribery scheme at the state nuclear company Energoatom.
Halushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 to 2025 and briefly as justice minister before resigning over the scandal last year, was detained “while crossing the state border,” according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). He is accused of money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation.
NABU said more than £5.1m ($7m) had been transferred to foreign accounts naming Halushchenko's wife and four children as beneficiaries. Some funds were used for schooling at elite Swiss institutions and placed in deposits generating additional income for the family. Halushchenko denies any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors allege the Midas scheme involved Energoatom contractors paying bribes to secure contracts, including for protective structures against Russian airstrikes. The plot is said to have been organised by Timur Mindich, a former associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who fled to Israel before arrest. A former deputy prime minister was arrested in November, with other ex-officials under investigation.
The scandal led to the ouster of Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, last year and reignited public anger over corruption during Ukraine's war with Russia. Zelenskyy had attempted to limit anti-corruption agencies' independence but reversed course after protests and pressure from Western allies. Energoatom CEO Pavlo Kovtoniuk said steps have been taken to prevent future corruption.
