Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said Monday it is investigating alleged kickbacks in the state nuclear operator Energoatom, targeting several senior figures.
Ukrainian media identified one as Timur Mindich, a businessman and former associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reportedly fled abroad hours before authorities searched his Kyiv apartment. Mindich co-owns Kvartal 95, the media company Zelenskyy founded before entering politics.
NABU said the suspects formed a criminal network that forced Energoatom’s counterparties to pay 10–15% kickbacks to avoid blocked payments or losing supplier status.
The probe follows Zelenskyy’s controversial July bill that weakened NABU and the specialized anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, sparking protests outside the president’s Kyiv office. Facing domestic opposition and international pressure, Zelenskyy reversed course and passed legislation restoring the agencies’ powers and independence.
