Ukraine president also calls for sanctions against friend and former business partner, saying ‘there must be maximum integrity’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has moved to contain growing public outrage in Ukraine over a corruption scandal in the energy sector by firing two ministers who are accused of involvement in a large-scale bribery scheme.

Ukraine’s president said the pair – justice minister Herman Halushchenko and energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk – could no longer remain in their jobs. He also called for personal sanctions against his friend and former business partner Timur Mindich, the scheme’s alleged organiser.