Ilia Neskhodovskyi, head of the analytical department of the ANTS network, stated this on Espreso TV."Corruption investigations around Halushchenko have been going on for quite a long time. More than two years ago, corruption in Energoatom was reported, about purchases that are significantly higher than similar purchases made by other companies. And the government ignored all these facts throughout this time," Neskhodovskyi noted.According to the head of the analytical department of the ANTS network, the government was well aware of corruption in the energy sector, about millions of dollars flowing into various pockets, but there was no reaction to all these investigations. This is mutual cover-up, and these actions are absolutely coordinated not only with the Ministry of Energy."In this situation, there are many brazen things that would be impossible to do without the involvement of other bodies. Financial monitoring should have traced all these schemes, all these millions that passed through and were not controlled. We see wads of money with seals of American banks on them. This means that not only the Ukrainian NABU but also American law enforcement agencies will now be interested in this corruption," Neskhodovskyi emphasized.BackgroundOn November 10, 2025, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced a major investigation into large-scale corruption centered on Energoatom, the country's state-run nuclear power operator. The announcement followed a 15-month probe, which reportedly involved over 1,000 hours of audio recordings and culminated in dozens of raids across the country.The core allegation is that a "high-level criminal organization" exerted "shadow control" over Energoatom. This group allegedly forced the company's contractors to pay kickbacks, reportedly between 10-15% of their contract values. These payments were allegedly demanded to prevent contractors from having their payments for goods and services blocked or from losing their supplier status. NABU has stated that the scheme involved laundering tens of millions of dollars.While official statements from NABU did not initially name all suspects, Ukrainian media outlets, citing sources within the investigation, identified several high-profile individuals. Reports indicated that searches were conducted at the home of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who had previously served as Ukraine's Energy Minister. Another key figure named in media reports is Timur Mindich, a businessman and co-owner of the Kvartal 95 production studio, which was founded by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Mindich reportedly fled Ukraine just hours before the NABU search of his residence.This scandal has emerged at a critical time for Ukraine, as its energy infrastructure remains a primary target of Russian attacks and as the country pursues anti-corruption reforms crucial for its European Union accession. In response to the investigation, President Zelenskyy emphasized the need for Energoatom to be "clean," and the company's supervisory board convened an emergency meeting, vowing to cooperate fully with the authorities.