Kiev admits corruption in Ukrainian energy sector is systemic, long-term

MOSCOW. Nov 25 (Interfax) - Corruption in the Ukrainian energy sector has been systemic and long-term, and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have been investigating five high-profile cases in the energy sector since 2022, Ukrainian media said, citing the anti-corruption bodies.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office posted infographics of criminal cases in the energy sector on social media on Tuesday, the media said. This includes the Energoatom case, which has inflicted UAH 100 million losses on the state and is the subject of a criminal proceeding, and the Ukrenergo case with UAH 600 million losses, which is also at the stage of judicial proceeding.

A pretrial investigation into the Kharkovoblenergo case, which inflicted UAH 12.6 million losses on the state, has been finalized. A court is hearing a bribery case of a deputy energy minister, and investigation continues in the Energoatom case involving kickbacks from contractors, the infographics said.

"A criminal organization unmasked during Operation Midas is simply a part of a much bigger problem. Corruption in the Ukrainian energy sector is systemic and long-term. Cases investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office in this area have various levels, from direct bribery in a ministry to large-scale schemes of market manipulation and theft of resources at state-run enterprises," the anti-corruption bodies said.

According to media, Operation Midas, carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, detected a corruption scheme in the energy sector involving people from the inner circle of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.