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Ukraine’s government is facing a significant political crisis as Justice Minister Denys Maliuska and Energy Minister German Galushchenko have submitted their resignations. The move came on Wednesday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested their dismissal amid a fast-unfolding corruption scandal that has reportedly reached the highest levels of his administration.
The investigation centers on allegations of a large-scale embezzlement and kickback scheme involving Energoatom, the country's state-owned nuclear power operator. This crisis emerges at a particularly critical time, as Ukraine braces for winter while facing renewed Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, placing the Energy Ministry under intense pressure and public scrutiny. Following the president’s call, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal formally submitted the motion for their dismissal to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, which is expected to vote on the matter soon.
According to anti-corruption prosecutors cited in multiple reports, the allegations are severe. Justice Minister Maliuska is specifically accused of accepting a bribe amounting to $2.5 million. The payment was allegedly made to persuade him to drop a lawsuit against Energoatom. While Energy Minister Galushchenko has not been formally named as a suspect, his ministry oversees the state firm at the heart of the probe, and he had been previously suspended. This affair has quickly become one of the most significant government scandals since Russia's full-scale invasion, with Ukrainian media reports also implicating a close associate of President Zelenskyy, further intensifying the political fallout.
The resignations underscore Kyiv's persistent struggle against endemic corruption, a critical issue for its international partners who have supplied billions in military and financial aid. Demonstrating a firm commitment to anti-graft measures is essential for maintaining Western support and advancing Ukraine's aspirations for European Union membership. The suspension and subsequent resignation of the top ministers are seen as a direct response to public and political pressure, signaling a commitment from Zelenskyy’s office to address the allegations head-on, even as the nation remains at war.
