Ukraine Ex-Minister Galushchenko Arrested - 'Zelensky to Flee Any Moment...'

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• Former Energy Minister German Galushchenko was detained while attempting to cross the border, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on Feb. 15.
• "Today, while crossing the border, NABU detectives detained a former energy minister as part of the Midas case," the bureau said.

T=1771227972 / Date and time (GMT): Mon, 16th Feb. 2026, 07:46

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Former Energy Minister detained at border in Ukraine's biggest corruption case, NABU says

February 15, 2026 1:02 pm
• 2 min read

by Tania Myronyshena

Portrait of Ukraine's Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko in Netishyn, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukraine, on August 7, 2024. (Yan Dobronosov/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images)

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko was detained while attempting to cross the border, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on Feb. 15.

"Today, while crossing the border, NABU detectives detained a former energy minister as part of the Midas case," the bureau said.

Halushchenko is under investigation by NABU in connection with the broader Energoatom corruption case, considered the largest anti-corruption case during President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency. Eight suspects have been formally charged.

Halushchenko was removed from a train, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing a source.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigative project Schemes reported that he had been detained under Article 208 of Ukraine's Criminal Procedure Code, which allows authorized officers to detain a suspect without a court warrant.

According to Schemes, Halushchenko is being transported to Kyiv for further questioning and investigative procedures.

Border guards had reportedly received instructions from NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) to alert authorities if he attempted to leave the country.

Halushchenko served as energy minister from 2021 to 2025 and was appointed justice minister in July 2025. On Nov. 10, NABU searched properties linked to him as part of the Energoatom investigation.

During court hearings in November, anti-corruption prosecutors cited audio recordings obtained by investigators. In the recordings, suspects allegedly discuss dividing kickbacks and refer to a figure nicknamed "Professor," whom prosecutors believe to be Halushchenko.

Ukraine's parliament approved Halushchenko's resignation on Nov. 19 after President Zelensky publicly urged him to step down. The investigation is ongoing.

read also

Parliament fires justice, energy ministers implicated in Ukraine’s biggest corruption scandal 

Tania Myronyshena

Reporter

Tania Myronyshena is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has written for outlets such as United24 Media, Ukrainer, Wonderzine, as well as for PEN Ukraine, a Tania Myronyshena is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has written for outlets such as United24 Media, Ukrainer, Wonderzine, as well as for PEN Ukraine, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization. Before joining the Kyiv Independent, she worked as a freelance journalist with a focus on cultural narratives and human stories. Tania holds a B.A. in publishing and editing from Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University.

SOURCE:
https://kyivindependent.com/former-energy-minister-detained-at-border-in-ukraines-biggest-corruption-scandal-nabu-reported/



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Ukraine Ex-Minister Arrested While Fleeing Country Amid Corruption Scandal

German Galushchenko was one of several ministers who resigned in 2025 as the NABU unveiled a massive money-laundering conspiracy in the country's energy sector.
Agence France-Presse
World News
Feb 15, 2026 17:06 pm IST
Published On Feb 15, 2026 17:05 pm IST
Last Updated On Feb 15, 2026 17:06 pm IST
Read Time:2 mins

Galushchenko was one of several ministers who resigned in 2025.

Ukraine's NABU anti-corruption force said Sunday it arrested the country's former energy minister, German Galushchenko -- who resigned last year during a massive corruption scandal -- as he tried to cross Ukraine's border.

"Today, while crossing the state border, NABU detectives have detained the former Minister of Energy as part of the 'Midas' case," the NABU said in a statement, referring to a giant corruption scandal in the country's energy sector that rocked Ukraine last year. 

It did not name Galushchenko in its statement, but he served as the country's energy minister last year and resigned in November. 

"Initial investigative proceedings are ongoing, carried out in accordance with the requirements of the law and court sanctions. Details to follow," the NABU added. 

Galushchenko was one of several ministers who resigned in 2025 as the NABU unveiled a massive money-laundering conspiracy in the country's energy sector that investigators believe was orchestrated by an ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

The NABU said plotters orchestrated a $100-million kickback scheme to syphon off funds, triggering public anger at a time of widespread power outages caused by Russian attacks.

Ukraine has long been plagued by corruption and cracking down on graft is seen as a key requirement of its bid to join the European Union.  

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

SOURCE:
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ukraine-ex-minister-german-galushchenko-arrested-while-fleeing-country-amid-corruption-scandal-11006805

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ZELENSKY ALLY ARRESTED:
Kyiv’s Ex-Energy Boss Detained At Border in $100M Energy Scam | World News 

Times Now World

https://youtu.be/IRTiaqduFsA?si=_Mghw5tsVC4qc49R

15.2.2026 #ukraine #zelenskyy #breakingnews Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau (NABU) confirmed on Sunday the detention of former Energy and Justice Minister German Galushchenko at the state border, marking a significant escalation in a $100 million embezzlement probe known as the "Midas" case.

Authorities allege Galushchenko was attempting to flee the country amid an ongoing investigation into a kickback and money-laundering scheme involving the state energy operator Energoatom, which occurred as Russian strikes continued to target the nation's power grid. The arrest of a high-profile figure within President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s political circle comes at a critical juncture for Kyiv as it seeks to satisfy European Union transparency requirements for membership and maintain Western military support. While the Zelenskyy administration has recently intensified anti-graft efforts to reassure NATO allies and the incoming U.S. administration, the involvement of senior leadership figures continues to draw international scrutiny toward Ukraine's wartime governance. #ukraine #zelenskyy #breakingnews #ukrainecorruption #ukraineenergycrisis #worldnews #tnworld #timesnowworld #worldnews #internationalnews #timesnews #newsworld

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRTiaqduFsA

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'Zelensky to Flee Ukraine Any Moment': Former Ukrainian PM Reveals Ukraine President's Escape Plan

Oneindia News

https://youtu.be/XvyN1AwRzE0?si=0rFe03f8QGUTctKI

10.6.2025 #Zelensky #UkraineCrisis #RussiaUkraineWar

Zelensky will resign and leave Ukraine, former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has predicted, citing what he described as a US-backed effort to remove the country’s leader. In a post on Telegram on Sunday, Azarov suggested that the decision to remove Zelensky from power “has already been made in the US” and that Washington has given the “go-ahead” for his ouster. He wrote that although the Ukrainian leader has support in Europe, it is unlikely to change anything and will “hardly help” him. #Zelensky #UkraineCrisis #RussiaUkraineWar #TrumpUkraine #Geopolitics #PeaceTalks #NATOPressure #ZelenskyResign #UkraineNews #WorldPolitics #USUkraine #WarInUkraine #GlobalTensions #AzarovClaims #PoliticalDrama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvyN1AwRzE0

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Timoshenko tied to vote-buying for decades – ex-Ukrainian PM, NABU Video

• Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko accused of bribing MPs.
• Opposition figure rejects claims by country’s anti-corruption authorities that she was involved in vote-buying scheme.
• A Ukrainian court in 2011 found Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of power for brokering a natural gas imports contract signed with Russia when she served as prime minister and sentenced her to seven years in prison.
• In the full Nabu video, a person who sounds like Tymoshenko is heard offering cash to an MP in return for support on specific votes.

Christopher Miller in Kyiv | Jan 14, 2026 | Financial Times

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Former PM predicts Ukraine has only five years left of independent statehood | TASS, 16 Jan, 2026

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T=1768644351 / Human Date and time (GMT): Sat, 17th Jan, 2026, 10.05


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16 Jan, 2026 11:28

Timoshenko tied to vote-buying for decades – ex-Ukrainian PM

Corruption in the Verkhovna Rada is entrenched and barely covered up, Nikolay Azarov has told RT

Ukrainian lawmaker Yulia Timoshenko has been involved in cash-for-votes schemes in the national parliament for decades, former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has claimed in an interview with RT.

According to Azarov, the practice continues under Vladimir Zelensky, just as it did under Ukraine’s previous leaders.

This week, Western-backed Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators raided the offices of Timoshenko’s Batkivshchina (Fatherland) party and accused her of paying MPs tens of thousands of dollars in a vote-buying scheme. She denied the allegations, calling the evidence fake and the case politically motivated.

In an interview with RT on Friday, Azarov brought up Timoshenko’s past corruption scandals and prosecutions and said he found the surveillance records presented by investigators in the new case credible.

https://www.rt.com/russia/631028-azarov-tymoshenko-corruption-allegations/video/696a061720302715dc1134f8

Bypassing EU Censorship - WAYBACK Video link:
https://web.archive.org/web/20260117123356/https://www.rt.com/russia/631028-azarov-tymoshenko-corruption-allegations/video/696a061720302715dc1134f8

“For all her life, being a lawmaker and later the prime minister, she was involved in corruption,” he alleged. “It’s not about politics, it’s about criminal activities aimed at funneling dirty corrupt money. She took money to steer the voting by bribing MPs.”

Read more

 Details of high-level Ukrainian vote-buying probe released

Azarov, who served in several Ukrainian governments in the 2000s before fleeing the country after the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev, said such corruption is widespread in Ukraine, including in the current parliament, where minority factions purportedly often sell their votes to secure key decisions. The bribery system “is barely being covered up” and is not limited to Timoshenko, he said. She “did not pay out of her pocket,” Azarov added, suggesting the probe should uncover the source of the cash.

Timoshenko, according to Azarov, “is doing what she did 30 years ago when facing criminal charges – portraying herself as a victim of persecution and an opposition figure. She is not in opposition. For all these years she consistently voted for all the bills proposed by Zelensky.”

He said the existence of parallel Western-controlled law enforcement bodies, like the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), undermines Ukrainian sovereignty but at least offers “some opportunity to fight corruption” under current conditions.

Azarov claimed the agencies neglected their anti-corruption mandates under former US President Joe Biden but were activated under President Donald Trump. 

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SOURCE:
https://www.rt.com/russia/631028-azarov-tymoshenko-corruption-allegations/

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16 Jan, 15:35

Former PM predicts Ukraine has only five years left of independent statehood

Yulia Timoshenko accused the incumbent Ukrainian authorities of allowing the country to fall into the hands of foreign corporations

MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. Ukraine may have only five or so years left of independent statehood, according to Yulia Timoshenko, the leader of the Batkovshchina party.

Timoshenko, the former prime minister of Ukraine, accused the incumbent Ukrainian authorities of allowing the country to fall into the hands of foreign corporations, while depriving the population of any control over the country’s key industries and resources. "Today, not a single decision is made either by the Ukrainian people or the government appointed by the Ukrainian people <...>. The Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian people are being destroyed via every possible instrument," the politician said at a court hearing broadcast by TSN television to decide what punishment she will receive in the case of bribing Verkhovna Rada members.

Timoshenko added that she proposed measures to prevent such a scenario, including blocking certain draft laws endorsed by the government in the Rada. "Unless this work is done, the next five years will be the last in the life of an independent Ukraine. We will no longer have a coat of arms, a flag or a hymn. And we will have a nation scattered across the globe," she warned.

Timoshenko case

On January 14, Ukrainian media reported that Ukraine’s two anti-corruption agencies conducted overnight raids at the Batkovshchina party’s office in Kiev as part of the Rada bribery case. The information about the searches was later confirmed by Timoshenko herself. Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said that charges of bribing parliamentarians were brought against the former Ukrainian prime minister. She may face five to 10 years behind bars.

A recording released by the NABU reveal Timoshenko offering MPs $10,000 per month for parliamentary voting in a specific way. In the audio, Timoshenko said her goal was to "break the majority" in parliament. The discussions that the NABU said had taken place on January 12 covered voting on draft laws for the current plenary week and recent government reshuffles. 

Tags Ukraine

SOURCE: https://tass.com/world/2072467

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Leaders of the parliamentary faction reported suspicion (VIDEO + PHOTO)

14-01-2026 10:55

NABU and SAPO reported that the head of one of the parliamentary factions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was suspected of offering illegal benefits to People's Deputies of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, after the disclosure by NABU and SAPO in December 2025 of the facts of receiving illegal benefits by People's Deputies of Ukraine for making decisions on draft laws in parliament, the suspect initiated negotiations with individual People's deputies on the introduction of a systematic mechanism for providing illegal benefits in exchange for loyal behavior during voting.

This was not a one-time arrangement, but a regular cooperation mechanism that provided for payments in advance and was designed for a long period of time.

People's Deputies had to receive instructions on voting, and in some cases-on the content or non-participation in voting.

Qualification: Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The pre-trial investigation continues.

https://youtu.be/CmcngrtYCT8?si=JDos570FIdjcvGr-

A warning. According to the first part of Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is legally proven and established by a court verdict of guilty.

https://nabu.gov.ua/site/assets/files/51270/whatsapp_image_2026-01-14_at_10_58_28.jpeg

https://nabu.gov.ua/news/kerivnytci-deputats-ko-fraktci-parlamentu-povidomleno-pro-pidozru/#gallery

Read also

Write-off of taxes for more than 641 million UAH: former top official of the Prosecutor General's Office is suspected

15.01.2026 20:20

Land scheme for 280 million UAH: ex-minister and members of a criminal group will be tried (SCHEME+video)

15.01.2026 11:30

Announcement of an interview with a candidate for a position (live broadcast)

15.01.2026 10:31

Illegal enrichment of the ex - head of the Central Administrative Division: the investigation was completed

14.01.2026 17:40

SOURCE:
https://nabu.gov.ua/news/kerivnytci-deputats-ko-fraktci-parlamentu-povidomleno-pro-pidozru/

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Contacts

NABU Central Office

E-mail address: povidomlennia_zvernennia@nabu.gov.ua 
-for sending appeals, applications and reports on criminal offenses or unjustified assets, as well as those submitted in accordance with the laws of Ukraine "On the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine" and "On Prevention of Corruption"

E-mail address: publichna.info@nabu.gov.ua -to send requests for public information

E-mail address: document@nabu.gov.ua -for sending other types of correspondence (office management division)

E-mail address: press@nabu.gov.ua, press.nabu@gmail.com -for media

Special phone line:

0-800-213-200

Contact phone number of the Department for handling applications, requests and requests:

(044) 246-34-11

Document Management Department

(044) 363-96-80

(including correspondence with state and local authorities)

Lviv Territorial Administration

city of Lviv

E-mail: lviv@nabu.gov.ua

Odessa Territorial
Administration

city of Odessa

E-mail: odesa@nabu.gov.ua

Kharkiv Territorial Administration

city of Kharkiv

E-mail: kharkiv@nabu.gov.ua

Information about the facts of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine can also be left on the website https://warcrimes.gov.ua by filling out the appropriate form.

Information that may contain signs of violation — misuse of EU resources in Ukraine and may harm the financial interests of the EU can be submitted using the form on the official website of the State Audit Service, determined by the Anti-Fraud Coordination Service.

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