Ukrainian authorities opened a criminal case against former energy minister German Galushchenko one day after he was detained while attempting to cross into Poland, escalating a $100 million corruption investigation that has reached senior officials and shaken the government of President Zelensky.
Galushchenko, who served four years as energy minister before briefly moving to the justice ministry last year, was arrested at the Ukrainian-Polish border and charged with suspected money laundering and participation in a criminal organization.
The case is part of a sweeping probe code-named “Midas” that alleges a kickback scheme tied to contracts with state nuclear power company Energoatom. Other suspects include Timur Mindich, a longtime associate of Zelensky, and former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov.
The probe, led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, uncovered evidence after a 15-month investigation that included roughly 1,000 hours of recordings. Authorities allege contractors paid a 10–15 percent surcharge on Energoatom agreements to secure payments and maintain supplier status, including contracts related to fortifying energy infrastructure against attacks during the war with Russia.
Detectives searched Galushchenko’s home in November, prompting Zelensky to call for the resignations of Galushchenko and his deputy, who later succeeded him. Charges were not filed at that time. The case has intensified scrutiny of corruption in Ukraine as the war approaches its fourth year.
