Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will restructure the state energy company Energoatom following a corruption scandal that led to the dismissal of the Energy and Justice ministers.
Zelensky expressed full support for investigations and stressed that “maximum integrity” must reign in the energy sectorat a time when Russia continues to target this type of infrastructure, especially as winter approaches.
“Right now, the situation is extremely difficult for everyone in Ukraine (…). It is absolutely unacceptable that, in the midst of all this, there are also schemes in the energy sector. Now, we must all protect Ukraine”, he maintained.
“It’s a question of trust”said Zelensky, who confirmed that he had asked the Prime Minister, Yulia Sviridenko, to pressure the Minister of Justice, Germano Galushchenko, and the Minister of Energy, Svitlana Hrynchuk, to resign from their positions, which they did.
The Ukrainian head of state asked the Ukrainian parliament to support the dismissals in a session to be held next weekso that the Ukrainian judicial system can then deal with the case: “Undermining the State and breaking the law has consequences”he warned.
Two days ago, the National Anti-Corruption Office of Ukraine announced a special operation to expose a major case of corruption in the energy sector.
Investigators found evidence that members of an alleged criminal organization They built a vast web of corruption to exert influence over state-owned companies, including Energoatom.
Security forces have so far detained five people allegedly involved, including businesspeople, former advisors to the Ministry of Energy and workersall accused of money laundering crimes.
