Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the dismissal of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko following revelations linking him to a sweeping corruption investigation in the country’s energy sector. The decision, revealed on Wednesday morning after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, comes amid mounting evidence — including audio recordings — allegedly capturing Halushchenko’s voice during conversations with several suspects in a major bribery and money-laundering case.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Svyrydenko confirmed the government’s move: “Today, the Cabinet decided to remove Herman Halushchenko from his position as Minister of Justice.” She added that Deputy Minister for European Integration, Liudmyla Sugak, would temporarily assume the duties of the ministry. The prime minister described the decision as necessary to preserve the integrity of the government amid a politically sensitive investigation.
Halushchenko, in his own social media statement, said he had spoken with the prime minister and agreed that “a political decision must come first, followed by all the necessary clarifications.” He characterized his suspension as a “civilized and proper solution” and vowed to defend himself legally: “I will stand by my position and prove my case.”
The investigation, led by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), has uncovered what authorities describe as a large-scale criminal scheme involving senior officials, business figures, and executives from the state nuclear power operator Enerhoatom. According to NABU, the case involves hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit payments and at least seven suspects, five of whom have been detained. Investigators documented more than 1,000 hours of audio recordings over 15 months as part of the operation.
Reuters reported that Halushchenko’s voice can be heard on one of the recordings released by NABU, allegedly discussing financial arrangements with several of the suspects. While prosecutors have not formally charged him, sources close to the investigation say he is under scrutiny for facilitating financial flows linked to corrupt contracts in the gas and energy sectors.
The scandal’s origins lie in a vast money-laundering network allegedly controlled by businessman Tymur Mindich — co-owner of the production company Kvartal 95 and a longtime associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky. NABU claims that Mindich and his associates laundered up to $100 million through a Kyiv office once belonging to former MP Andriy Derkach, who fled to Russia and is wanted for treason. The illicit funds reportedly stemmed from inflated contracts with Enerhoatom, with bribes ranging from 10 to 15 percent of contract values.
Among those implicated are former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, who allegedly received $1.2 billion and €100,000 in cash bribes through intermediaries. NABU says the final installment of $500,000 was paid to Chernyshov’s wife after he became a suspect. Charges against Chernyshov include abuse of office and accepting improper benefits, with estimated losses to the state exceeding one billion hryvnias (approximately $86 million).
Prosecutors allege that Mindich maintained close ties with Halushchenko, using the minister’s influence to control financial streams in the energy sector. According to SAP, Halushchenko and his associates helped launder proceeds from bribes through the networks of former Energy Ministry advisor Ihor Myroniuk and Enerhoatom’s security executive Dmytro Basov.
In a related move, the Ukrainian government dissolved the supervisory board of Enerhoatom earlier this week as part of the broader response to the scandal.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has made anti-corruption efforts a centerpiece of Ukraine’s path toward European Union accession, has yet to issue a formal comment on Halushchenko’s dismissal. However, the scandal threatens to shake confidence in Kyiv’s reform agenda at a time when transparency and accountability remain critical to sustaining Western support.
For now, Halushchenko’s removal marks the most significant political fallout from the expanding energy-sector corruption probe — one that has already ensnared top officials and allies of the presidential administration. As investigations continue, the case is emerging as a defining test of Ukraine’s commitment to cleaning up governance amid war, reconstruction, and its ongoing pursuit of EU membership.
