Former Ukrainian energy minister Herman Halushchenko was detained while attempting to cross the border on the night of February 15. According to the information, law enforcement officers removed him from the train as he was preparing to leave the country.
The reason for the detention is the "Midas" operation and the "Energoatom" scandal.
Halushchenko's detention is not accidental. He is one of the main figures in the large-scale investigation named "Midas," conducted by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP):
Charge: According to the investigation, approximately 100 million US dollars were embezzled from "Energoatom," Ukraine's state nuclear operator.
Halushchenko's name is associated with a corruption network linked to President Zelensky's close friend and co-owner of "Kvartal 95," Timur Mindich. It should be noted that Mindich was able to flee the country a few hours before the searches began.
Border service officials stated that they received a special inquiry regarding Halushchenko. Such inquiries are usually applied to prevent individuals involved in criminal proceedings from leaving the country. Halushchenko was dismissed from his post as Minister of Justice in November 2025 and has been under investigation since then.
Political analysts believe that Halushchenko's detention is an attempt by the Ukrainian authorities to show their Western partners, especially the Trump administration, that there are no "untouchables" in the fight against corruption. This wave, which began in the fall, apparently will target many more high-ranking officials./Musavat.com