Zelenskyy announces energy cleanup as Ukraine faces corruption scandal
Alleged embezzlement plot rocks Ukraine
Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot reports on politicians and partners of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly involved in an energy corruption scandal in a “special report.”
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced new efforts to “clean up” the country’s energy sector, amid a corruption scandal and near-constant attacks from Russia.
Zelensky met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Sunday morning, saying he called on lawmakers to reorganize the leadership of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and the State Energy Monitoring Inspectorate, in addition to other efforts to eliminate Russian influence in the sector.
“In full coordination with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, ensure the renewal of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency and quickly complete the competition for the position of head of ARMA so that the new head of the Agency can be selected by the end of this year,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
He further called on lawmakers to “promptly conduct an audit and prepare for the sale of assets and shares of assets belonging to Russian entities and collaborators who fled to Russia.” All these assets must work one hundred percent in the interests of Ukraine – to support our defense and contribute to Ukraine’s budget.”
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REMAINS SILENT AS MASSIVE CORRUPTION SCANDAL IN UKRAINE BREAKS ZELENSKYY’S INNER CIRCLE
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s president, is encouraging new efforts to end corruption in the country’s energy sector. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The new energy initiative also comes after a former Zelensky associate was accused of being the mastermind of a $100 million embezzlement scheme involving nuclear power.
Tymur Mindich, once Zelensky’s business partner, was identified by Ukrainian anti-corruption watchdogs as the orchestrator of a scheme involving senior officials and the National Nuclear Energy Company of Ukraine. Before the scandal, some feared Mindich’s growing influence over lucrative Ukrainian industries he had access to because of his ties to Zelensky.
Mindich allegedly exercised control over loyalists who then pressured contractors for Energoatom, Ukraine’s national nuclear energy company, by demanding bribes to bypass bureaucratic hurdles. The bribes requested reportedly reached 15%.
Zelensky himself was not involved in the investigation.
FORMER ZELENSKYY ASSOCIATE CHARGED IN $100 MILLION EMISSION SCHEME
Ukrainian MPs vote for a bill depriving anti-corruption institutions of their independence on July 22, 2025 in kyiv, Ukraine. Parliament decided to restrict the autonomy of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. (Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
The new effort comes as Zelensky says his team is “working to ensure a fresh start to negotiations” on ending the war with Russia.
“We are also counting on the resumption of exchanges of prisoners of war – many meetings, negotiations and calls are currently taking place to achieve this. I thank everyone who is helping. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Zelensky is trying to avoid the consequences of a corruption scandal in the energy sector.
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The Ukrainian president further said he was preparing for a full week of diplomacy with Greece, France and Spain, as well as the resumption of negotiations on prisoner of war exchanges with Russia.
Zelensky will meet with Greek officials on Sunday to discuss natural gas imports, while talks with France on Monday and Spain on Tuesday will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense.
Rachel Wolf of Fox News contributed to this report.
