Kiev, 12 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) - A corruption investigation into the Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom continued on Tuesday with searches of premises relevant to former energy minister German Galushchenko.

He has been justice minister since July and the Justice Ministry in Kiev confirmed the measures.

"The minister is fully supporting the law enforcement authorities to ensure a comprehensive, objective and unbiased investigation," the ministry said in a statement.

The Justice Ministry said it "adheres to the principle of zero tolerance towards corruption." No details of possible allegations were mentioned.

Suspicion notice against former deputy prime minister

Later, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) reported that a suspicion notice had been issued against a former deputy prime minister. According to investigators, more than €1.1 million ($1.3 million) in cash was allegedly handed to the suspect and an intermediary.

During a court hearing on preventive measures for another suspect, prosecutor Serhiy Savytsky confirmed, according to media reports, that the person concerned was Oleksiy Chernyshov, who has been under corruption suspicion since June in another case involving real estate dealings.

The prosecutor also named Timur Mindich as the main suspect. Mindich allegedly exerted influence not only over Galushchenko, but also over former defence minister Rustem Umerov.

In a statement, Umerov acknowledged that he had had contact with Mindich in the past, but rejected any corruption allegations.

Five initial arrests

The NABU and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) of Ukraine disclosed an investigation at Energoatom on Monday.

The probe concerns bribes that are alleged to have been paid during the construction of protective devices around energy facilities against Russian air attacks.

On Tuesday, NABU spoke of five arrests and seven suspected cases. The group is said to have laundered around $100 million in bribes.

The traces also lead to a confidant and business partner of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from his time as an actor.

From his flat in the government district of Kiev, the main suspect was alleged to have influenced state decisions "in the energy and defence sectors" in his own interests. The man is said to have left Ukraine.

Zelensky demanded that the guilty should be sentenced regardless of who they are.

Nuclear company sees work of nuclear power plants secured

Energoatom spoke of an "incident," but said it had no impact on the financial stability of the company, electricity production or the safety of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

Nevertheless, it appears to be the biggest bribery scandal in Ukraine since the war began.

Despite reforms, the country, which is striving to join the European Union, is still regarded as one of the most corruption-prone states in Europe.

"This is a low blow. Especially in the current situation, as we are fighting against the Russians who want to occupy our country. And at the same time we still have to fight against corruption," Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko in an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt.

Former deputy minister also arrested

Parallel to the NABU investigation, the public prosecutor's office in Kiev and the SBU intelligence service reported a suspicious activity report against a former deputy minister for social policy.

He is accused of having spent public funds in 2018 to develop a programme called E-Social, which ultimately failed.

The project is alleged to have caused losses to the state budget amounting to more than €480,000.

The suspect, who is currently working as a counsellor at the Ministry of Social Affairs, now faces a prison sentence of up to five years.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the money spent came from a World Bank programme.

Photo: NABU logo