Operation Midas lasted for over a year: NABU released the first audio recordings of those involved in corruption in the energy sector
НАБУ
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office are conducting a large-scale operation “Midas” to expose corruption in the energy sector. According to the investigation, the activities of a high-level criminal organization were established, which controlled financial flows and personnel decisions in state energy structures.
This was reported by the NABU press service .
As noted by the head of the Main Unit of NABU Detectives, Oleksandr Abakumov, the special operation lasted 15 months, during which more than 70 searches were conducted throughout the country. All detectives of the Bureau were involved in the operation. According to him, this is a large-scale corruption scheme in the energy and defense sectors, which included money laundering and illicit enrichment.
“NABU and SAPO are conducting Operation Midas. 15 months of work, over 70 searches, involving all NABU detectives,” Abakumov reported.
Journalists noted that as a result of the investigation, a group of individuals who had built a system of influence on strategic state-sector enterprises, in particular JSC “NNEGC ‘Energoatom’”, were exposed.
According to the investigation, the criminal organization included:
- former advisor to the Minister of Energy,
- Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security of Energoatom,
- businessman – group leader,
- as well as four people who were involved in money laundering.
MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated that the defendants include Herman Galushchenko, Ihor Myronyuk, Dmytro Basov, and Timur Mindich.
The NABU explained that the main activity of the criminal organization was the systematic receipt of illegal benefits from Energoatom’s counterparties in the amount of ten to fifteen percent of the value of contracts.
“Contractors were imposed conditions of paying ‘kickbacks’ for avoiding blocking payments for services provided or maintaining supplier status. This practice was called ‘slagbaum’,” the Bureau said in a statement.
The head of the organization involved in the scheme the former deputy head of the State Property Fund, who later became an advisor to the Minister of Energy, as well as a former law enforcement officer who held a senior position at Energoatom.
“Using official connections in the ministry and the state-owned company, they ensured control over personnel decisions, procurement processes, and the movement of financial flows,” the NABU added.
According to detectives, the actual management of Energoatom, which has an annual income of over two hundred billion hryvnias, was carried out not by official officials, but by outsiders who did not have any authority, but played the role of “watchers.”
By the way, detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau are conducting searches at the home of former Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko and at JSC NNEGC Energoatom. The investigation concerns corruption schemes in the energy sector , which, according to the investigation, have been operating for a long time.
The day before, Justice Minister Herman Galushchenko, who headed the Ministry of Energy until the end of July 2025, called for an end to discussions of his previous activities , in particular regarding tariff policy.
Recall, Herman Galushchenko was appointed Minister of Energy on April 21, 2021, and received the position of Minister of Justice after the appointment of Yulia Svyrydenko as Prime Minister in July 2025.
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