Ukraine: Zelensky’s inner circle drawn into corruption scandal

A sweeping corruption investigation in Ukraine is exposing President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proximity to key figures implicated in the scandal, reported the The New York Times on November 19th.

The probe, which centres on an alleged multimillion-dollar kickback operation tied to the state nuclear power company, has implicated figures close to the president, raising pressing questions about the fate of Western aid. The fallout is fracturing the unity that defined Ukrainian politics after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Anti-corruption groups accused a number of individuals on November 10th of masterminding a $100 million (£76 million) embezzlement plan in the energy industry, notably at the national nuclear operator Enerhoatom, the BBC reported.

Zelensky demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk on November 12th.

Zelensky in July 2025 tried to revoke the autonomy of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) through signing a new bill into law, Al Jazeera reported.

However, due to protests on the streets of Ukraine, he was forced to walk back on the legislation and signed a new bill that restored the independence of the anti-corruption organisations.

Public anger has intensified following revelations that former Zelensky business associate Timur Mindich organised a scheme that siphoned around $100 million.

Mindich, the co-owner of the president’s Kvartal 95 production company, has allegedly profited from his connections with Zelensky and significantly increased his influence in recent years, according to The Kyiv Independent via Ukrainska Pravda. 

Zelensky and Mindich have been friends for a long time. Prior to Zelensky transferring his ownership of Kvartal 95 to partners following his election as president in 2019, Mindich and Zelensky co-owned the production firm.

Investigators said they recorded discussions involving Mindich, a minister, and a nuclear company executive on how to divide payments and move funds abroad. The agency has released audio excerpts of those conversations. Mindich has reportedly fled to Israel.

Although no major political forces are demanding Zelensky’s resignation, observers warn that the growing backlash threatens his governing capacity, particularly as members of his Servant of the People party defect and weaken his parliamentary majority.

Opposition groups are pushing for a no-confidence vote in the cabinet, and some lawmakers are urging the dismissal of Andriy Yermak, the president’s influential chief of staff. Reports indicate that internal dissent within Zelensky’s party has grown, with some members threatening to leave unless changes are made.

The scandal has erupted as Ukraine faces severe electricity shortages following Russian strikes on power plants, making the exposure of theft from the energy sector particularly sensitive for Ukrainians dealing with electricity blackouts.

Polling shows trust in Zelensky has fallen to about 50 percent after peaking near 90 percent in 2022. Political analysts warn that prolonged discord could reintroduce a pattern of parliamentary deadlock that has previously hindered Ukrainian governance, which could be exploited by Putin as the war grinds on and Russia continues to gain ground on the battlefield.

The New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Kyiv Independent via Ukrainska Pravda, The Times of Israel, BBC, Maghrebi.org