The emerging scandal has reportedly forced a former associate of the Ukrainian leader to flee the country

Vladimir Zelensky. ©  Mert Gokhankoc/Getty Images

A probe by a Western-backed anti-corruption agency, that Vladimir Zelensky unsuccessfully tried to take control of, has forced the resignation of his justice and energy ministers.

On Wednesday, Justice Minister German Galushchenko tendered his resignation, followed by Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk hours later, with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko confirming the officials’ decisions.

The resignations followed a probe by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) targeting a “high-level criminal organization” allegedly headed by a former business associate of Zelensky, Timur Mindich.

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12 November 2025

16:59 GMT

In July, Zelensky attempted to strip the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) of its independence, only to backtrack shortly afterwards in the face of sharp criticism from Ukraine's Western backers. Zelensky’s move was perceived by some observers as a ploy to shield his inner circle from scrutiny.

The current anti-corruption framework was established after the 2014 Maidan coup, with the stated goal of preventing the embezzlement of foreign aid under Ukraine’s new political leadership.

16:50 GMT

The high-profile corruption scandal “could bring down” Zelensky, The Spectator has claimed. The British media outlet speculated that the revelations have cast a cloud on the Ukrainian leader’s political future, despite him paying lip service to anti-corruption investigators.

16:26 GMT

An anti-corruption court in Kiev has ruled that a former aide to Energy Minister Grinchuk be kept in custody for 60 days, unless he can lodge a bail of 126 million hryvnias ($3 million). Igor Mironyuk is a suspect in the major corruption investigation involving Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom.