The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) activated the investigation leading to Operation Midas on November 10, and although it did not publish the names of the five detainees, the Ukrainian press identified among the main accused Timur Mendich and Oleksandr Zuckerman, both with close ties to the circles of power in Kiev. This judicial intervention had a direct impact not only on the state company Energoatom, the cornerstone of the Ukrainian energy sector, but also on senior government officials, leading to the resignation of the Ministers of Justice and Energy, according to the European News Agency.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on Mendic and Zuckerman, in accordance with the resolution adopted by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine the day before, as a direct result of the corruption scandal at Energoatom. As the Ukrainian Presidency explained, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council will monitor the implementation of this measure, which will enter into force from the date of its publication. European Press media highlighted that the conspiracy under investigation would revolve around the transfer of up to $100 million and bribes in exchange for the award of contracts linked to the construction of defenses at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
Mindich, co-owner of the production company Studio Kvartal-95 and considered a close figure to Zelensky due to his past relationship in the television industry, was to leave Ukraine hours before the official investigation by authorities came to light. Zelensky addressed his relationship with the president in an interview with Bloomberg, where he emphasized: “A head of state at war cannot have friends.” Zelensky confirmed that he had not communicated with Mendic since the beginning of the investigation and stressed the need to preserve the independence of anti-corruption organizations, insisting that “everyone must be equally accountable before the law,” as reported by Europa Press.
Mendich’s sudden departure from the country intensified media and political interest in the case, as the production company Studio Kvartal-95 played a major role in Zelenskyy’s public rise before his rise to the presidency. Europa Press also reported that this anti-corruption operation included other relevant figures in the energy sector, including an Energy Ministry advisor and a senior Energoatom official.
The crisis that emerged at Energoatom prompted the Ukrainian president to demand profound changes in the company’s management. Zelensky announced his intention to “clean up” and “reset” Energoatom, a strategic company in the context of the war and a frequent target of Russian attacks. As Europe Press reported, the president acknowledged the complexity facing the country and stressed the need to maintain “maximum integrity” in the energy sector, as it is an issue affecting national confidence in the midst of the invasion.
In addition to the dismissal of the two ministers, Zelensky called for protecting the country’s energy infrastructure. He stated that “it is absolutely unacceptable that, in the midst of all this, there are also conspiracies in the energy sector,” referring to the repercussions of the case and the importance of preventing internal corruption while Ukraine faces the consequences of the war.
The investigation into Energoatom is taking place in a context of vulnerability, given the Russian attack on major energy supply facilities in Ukraine. Europe Press noted that the government’s response seeks to show a firm stance in confronting corruption issues, regardless of personal or political ties, supporting the work of NABU and facilitating institutional renewal.
The sanctions decree signed by Zelensky stipulates that supervision of its compliance rests with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, thus ensuring traceability and enforcement of measures. In addition, Europe Press highlighted that the NABU investigation aims to clarify individual responsibilities within the framework that would have allowed large-scale transfer of funds in one of the most sensitive sectors to the country’s stability and recovery.
At a time when Ukraine is suffering from constant attacks on its strategic infrastructure by Russian forces, the government stressed the importance of not tolerating any form of economic violations. Zelensky reiterated that the priority is to defend national sovereignty and ensure the transparent work of public organizations, an essential aspect of maintaining international support and internal order during armed conflict, Europe Press reported.
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