Energy corruption: the Midas case is just one episode in a long list

Operation Midas has been keeping the energy sector in suspense since November 2025, but large-scale corruption schemes in this area have a much longer history.

Transparency International Ukraine states this in its analytical material.

The organization recalls the episode of the embezzlement of 6.4 million euros from the state-owned enterprise Energoatom in the case of former People’s Deputy Mykola Martynenko. The investigation believes that in 2009-2012, the defendants ensured the victory of the Czech company Skoda JS in tenders for the supply of equipment for Ukrainian nuclear power plants at inflated prices. About 18 percent of the contract value was transferred as alleged commissions to the accounts of a Panamanian company controlled by Martynenko.

The case is being considered by the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court. In addition to this episode, Martynenko is accused of embezzling $17.2 million from the state-owned enterprise SkhidGOK and receiving more than €310,000 in illegal profits. Former executives of Energoatom and individuals associated with the management of offshore accounts are also on trial.

The case of the former deputy head of the President’s Office, Rostyslav Shurma, caused a separate resonance. The investigation accuses him of organizing a scheme to illegally receive funds under the green tariff through solar power plants located in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region. According to law enforcement officers, in 2022-2023, controlled companies submitted false data on the volume of electricity generated and received more than UAH 141 million from the Guaranteed Buyer State Enterprise.

On February 13, 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs declared Rostyslav Shurma and his brother wanted. The former employee himself is abroad. The Supreme Court of Criminal Appeals has chosen preventive measures for the trustees and managers of related companies with the possibility of posting bail. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Another high-profile case concerns the construction of the Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility in the Chernobyl zone. The investigation claims that Energoatom suffered losses of almost UAH 100 million due to the conclusion of contracts without open bidding and the subsequent increase in the contract value from UAH 421 million to UAH 1.5 billion. The indictment against the four defendants has already been submitted to the court.

Transparency International Ukraine emphasizes that all these proceedings demonstrate systemic risks in the management of strategic state assets and the importance of bringing cases to verdicts.

It was previously reported that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed the names of people who reviewed information about the “Midas” case regarding corruption in the energy sector.

As a reminder, NABU and SAPO have released new recordings in the energy corruption case, dubbed “Midas.” The tapes feature former Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko.