Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to “overhaul” state-owned energy companies following a significant corruption scandal within the country’s energy sector.
Anti-graft investigators allege that approximately $100 million (£76m) has been embezzled, sparking outrage amid ongoing power outages caused by Russian attacks.
“Alongside a full audit of their financial activities, the management of these companies is to be renewed,” Zelensky stated in a post on X on Saturday.
He added that Energoatom, the state nuclear company at the center of the scandal, will have a new supervisory board “within a week.”
Several individuals implicated in the scandal reportedly have close ties to the Ukrainian president.
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“I have also instructed government officials to maintain constant and meaningful communication with law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies,” Zelensky wrote.
He further called for the swift appointment of a new head of Ukrhydroenergo, a hydropower generating company, as well as reforms for oil and gas giant Naftogaz and the nation’s Gas Transmission System Operator.
Earlier this week, two ministers were compelled to resign due to the corruption scheme, and a former business associate of Zelensky was sanctioned following the scandal’s emergence.
On Monday, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap) announced that a 15-month investigation revealed the involvement of several members of the Ukrainian government.
Some of those implicated in the scandal are, or have been, close associates of Zelensky, including Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, and Timur Mindich, a businessman and co-owner of Zelensky’s former TV studio Kvartal95.
Zelensky has previously affirmed his commitment to full cooperation with the anti-corruption investigation.
“I have also instructed government officials to maintain constant and meaningful communication with law enforcement and anti-corruption bodies,” he reiterated on Saturday.
“The full transparency and integrity in the energy sector remain an absolute priority.”
However, the scandal has renewed scrutiny over Zelensky’s dedication to combating corruption.
In July, he faced criticism after he signed a law limiting the independence of Nabu and Sap.
While Zelensky’s subsequent decision to reinstate their independence quelled the immediate outrage, the episode drew criticism from European allies, including France and Germany, and prompted G7 ambassadors to express their desire to discuss the matter with the Ukrainian leadership.
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