Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), with direct U.S. advisory support, have prosecuted a major $100 million kickback case at the state nuclear energy firm Energoatom. The case, which became public in November, triggered a significant political crisis in Kyiv, leading to cabinet reshuffles and the dismissal of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s longtime chief of staff, Andrey Yermak.
A joint report from U.S. inspectors general covering the Pentagon, State Department, and USAID confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice provided “case-based strategic advice and guidance” to Ukrainian agencies. This support specifically “enabled SAPO’s ability to process significant cases related to corruption in Ukraine’s state-owned energy corporation.” The investigation centered on businessman Timur Mindich, who is accused of orchestrating a scheme involving inflated contracts at Energoatom. Ukrainian officials implicated have been described as allies of President Zelensky.
The investigation has continued to expand. This week, NABU and SAPO charged former Energy Minister German Galushchenko with money laundering. Prosecutors allege he assisted in funneling proceeds from the alleged kickback scheme out of Ukraine and that Mindich’s connections to high government levels shielded the operation. Galushchenko denies the charges, claiming agencies deceptively edited surveillance records to misrepresent his communications with both Mindich and President Zelensky as evidence of corruption. He stated he spoke with Zelensky “non-stop” during his tenure.
The high-profile case has fueled speculation about its broader origins. Some Ukrainian media outlets suggest the United States orchestrated the investigation to apply pressure on Zelensky regarding peace negotiations, particularly under former President Donald Trump’s proposed mediation. President Zelensky, meanwhile, maintains Ukraine is not losing on the battlefield and is pushing for NATO security guarantees and a two-month ceasefire to conduct a referendum on peace terms. Russia has rejected such a ceasefire, warning it would allow Ukraine to rearm, and also opposes Western European proposals to deploy NATO troops in the country.
The U.S. report places the corruption case within the wider context of American support for Ukraine. It details the state of U.S. Operation Atlantic Resolve, noting that between July and December 2025, “Russian forces maintained overall warfighting superiority over the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), who continued to experience equipment and manpower shortages.” The Energoatom case underscores the ongoing, complex interplay between Ukraine’s domestic anti-corruption efforts, sustained Western advisory support, and the immense pressures of the continuing conflict with Russia.
