Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau has charged former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko with money laundering and organized crime as part of Operation Midas, the sweeping investigation into alleged corruption at the state nuclear energy company Energoatom.
The charges mark a significant escalation in the probe, which has already implicated several high-ranking officials and businessmen in an alleged $100 million bribery and kickback network. Halushchenko is accused of involvement in laundering illicit funds through complex financial arrangements linked to the energy sector.
Operation Midas has become one of the most politically sensitive anti-corruption cases in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, touching on individuals connected to the presidential administration and the energy industry. The case has been closely watched by international partners as a test of Ukraine’s commitment to fighting high-level corruption while under wartime conditions.
Prosecutors allege that the former minister participated in a scheme that diverted funds from Energoatom through a network of shell companies and offshore accounts. The investigation has already resulted in charges against multiple suspects, including former senior officials and business figures.