Former Energy Chief Arrested at Border Amid Major Anti-Corruption Probe

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Kyiv: Ukrainian authorities have taken former energy minister German Galushchenko into custody as he attempted to leave the country, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) confirmed on Sunday. The arrest occurred at a state border crossing and forms part of an expansive investigation into alleged wrongdoing within the nation’s energy sector.

NABU said its detectives detained the ex-minister while he was crossing the border, acting under an ongoing probe known as the “Midas” case, which focuses on an alleged $100 million kickback and embezzlement scheme involving state energy operations. Authorities have said the investigation targets organised corruption tied to energy contracts and commissions.

While the anti-corruption agency did not name Galushchenko in its official statement, Ukrainian media widely identified him as the detained figure. Galushchenko, who served as energy minister until his resignation in November 2025, also briefly held the post of justice minister before stepping down amid the widening scandal.

Reports indicate that border guards intercepted the former minister after receiving alerts from NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). He was reportedly taken off a train and transferred onward for further questioning and investigative processing in Kyiv.

The “Midas” affair has already ensnared several high-profile figures and prompted multiple resignations within the government. Investigators allege contractors working with the state nuclear company Energoatom were compelled to pay undue commissions, sparking public outrage especially as Ukraine faces ongoing Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

Anti-corruption efforts are a central reform priority for Kyiv, particularly as it advances its bid for European Union membership. Crackdowns on elite corruption figures like Galushchenko signal a broader push by Ukrainian authorities to hold powerful actors accountable even amid wartime challenges.