Another corruption scandal is unfolding in Ukraine. In 2024, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office launched a large-scale operation, codenamed “Midas,” aimed at exposing corruption in the energy sector.
NABU uncovered a network of criminals who had created a corruption scheme designed to influence strategic public sector enterprises, particularly Enerhoatom. The suspects allegedly collected bribes from the company’s contractors, amounting to 10 to 15 percent of the contract value. The total amount of bribes paid is estimated to reach approximately $100 million, writes Do Rzezcy.
In a telephone conversation on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address corruption problems in the country.
“The Chancellor emphasized the German government’s expectations that Ukraine resolutely continues its fight against corruption and pursues reforms, particularly in the area of the rule of law,” the chancellor’s spokesman said.
Germany has provided Ukraine with more military aid than any other European country, and Merz is concerned that public support for such support will weaken dramatically in light of such corruption. There is also the possibility that U.S.President Trump may also pull American aid altogether is also a concern.
According to Merz’s spokesman, Zelensky “is committed to full transparency, long-term support for independent anti-corruption bodies and further swift action to regain the trust of Ukrainians, European partners and international donors.”
Zelensky is clearly thankful for the military aid received from Germany, including air defense and energy infrastructure protection.
In the meantime, Zelensky is also facing a massive scandal, with his close associate and oligarch Timur Mindich being investigated by NABU for a money laundering scheme that resulted in $100 million being stolen. Mindich has since reportedly fled the country, and all eyes are on Zelensky, who had previously lobbied to have NABU dismantled altogether.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, who has long pushed for peace and suffered Kyiv’s continuous bombings of pipelines used to transport oil and gas to Hungary, weighed in, posting on X: “The golden illusion of Ukraine is falling apart. A wartime mafia network with countless ties to President @ZelenskyyUa has been exposed.”
Warning against “the chaos into which the Brusselian elite want to pour European taxpayers’ money,” Orbán reiterated that he “will not send the Hungarian people’s money to Ukraine” and will not “give in to the Ukrainian president’s financial demands and blackmail.”
The golden illusion of Ukraine is falling apart. A wartime mafia network with countless ties to President @ZelenskyyUa has been exposed. The energy minister has already resigned, and the main suspect has fled the country.
This is the chaos into which the Brusselian elite want to… pic.twitter.com/C1nuQV7HsT
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 13, 2025Orbán listed off current domestic projects his government is funding instead, and has long told Brussels to focus EU funds and attention on the economic and migration crises in member states instead of pursuing war.
