Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Thursday announced that the embattled nation’s government will conduct a comprehensive audit of public companies in the energy sector to fight corruption allegations worrying the European Union.
The audit applies to the state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom, among other Ukrainian entities. Energoatom is accused of being at the center of an alleged $100 million kickback scheme.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities are committed to uncovering the scandal as the country battles to maintain Western support for its war with Russia, which has bombarded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with aerial attacks recently.
“During full-scale war, when the enemy destroys our energy system every day and our people live under constant outage schedules — any corruption is absolutely unacceptable,” Svyrydenko posted on X.
The Ukrainian government dismissed two ministers, Energoatom’s vice president, and other officials on Wednesday as the anti-corruption investigation intensifies amid the company-wide audit.
“We are preparing a comprehensive decision regarding all state-owned enterprises, including those in the energy sector,” the prime minister said. “Audits are underway, and supervisory boards have been instructed to review operations, especially procurement practices.”
The fallout from the scandal remains a challenge for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is balancing turmoil within his own government and the external threat posed by Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with Zelensky on Thursday to express his concerns about the corruption allegations facing Ukraine’s energy sector.
Merz “underlined the German government’s expectation that Ukraine press ahead energetically with fighting corruption and further reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law,” Merz’s office said, according to the Associated Press.
In response, Zelensky promised “full transparency, long-term support for the independent anti-corruption authorities and quick further measures in order to win back the confidence of the Ukrainian population, European partners, and international donors,” per the statement from Merz’s office.
Germany is one of Ukraine’s strongest EU allies, providing an estimated 40 billion euros in military aid since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Merz reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine as the war persists.
“I am grateful to Germany for its support,” Zelensky said. “German assistance has saved thousands of our people’s lives.”
TOP UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS REMOVED FROM OFFICE OVER $100 MILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL
The audit comes amid aggressive Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy plants, causing many civilian casualties and triggering mass blackouts.
“While the enemy continues its nightly attacks, our task remains unchanged: to ensure that every Ukrainian family has light, gas, and heat,” Svyrydenko said, adding that 1 billion Ukrainian hryvnias will be allocated to help rebuild the nation’s damaged energy sites.