Zelenskyy demands resignations of Ukrainian ministers in corruption scandal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded the resignation of two senior cabinet ministers implicated in a substantial corruption investigation targeting the country's energy sector. In a Wednesday evening video address, Zelenskyy declared that "the minister of justice and the minister of energy cannot remain in office" amid a $100 million graft probe, characterizing the situation as fundamentally "a matter of trust" requiring immediate resolution.

Immediate Government Response and Resignations

Following the presidential announcement, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk confirmed she had submitted her resignation letter via Facebook, thanking Zelenskyy for the "opportunity to work for the benefit of the state" while denying any legal violations during her professional activities. Simultaneously, the government suspended Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko appointing Deputy Justice Minister Liudmyla Sugak as acting minister and later confirming Halushchenko had also submitted his resignation.

Comprehensive Anti-Corruption Measures

Zelenskyy announced a systematic "cleansing and reset" of management at national nuclear energy provider Energoatom and pledged to implement sanctions against two individuals implicated in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau's investigation. The president formally requested parliamentary support for the ministerial resignations while emphasizing that subsequent procedures must follow established legal frameworks, reflecting the complex governance challenges facing Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia and its European Union accession aspirations.

Investigation Scope and Political Context

The corruption probe involves what anti-corruption authorities describe as a "high-level criminal organization" that allegedly demanded illicit payments representing 10%-15% of state contract values within Ukraine's energy sector. The investigation, spanning fifteen months and involving extensive audio surveillance, has resulted in five detentions and seven formal suspicion notices. The anti-corruption initiative occurs amid Ukraine's European integration process and follows Zelenskyy's recent restoration of independence to the country's primary anti-corruption agencies after public protests reversed earlier consolidation attempts, creating governance dynamics that regional partners including Türkiye monitor closely given their substantial interests in Black Sea regional stability.