‘Another Burst of Pus’: Zakharova on Ukraine’s Corruption Scandal

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, commented on the recent corruption revelations in Ukraine, labeling them as yet another manifestation of ongoing problems within the country. At the same time, Ukrainian sources report that EU Ambassador Kateryna Maternova is concerned about the disclosures regarding corruption schemes in Kyiv, while some commentators allege that the EU is even obstructing the investigation.

Zakharova referred to the news about corruption in Ukraine as ‘another burst of pus.’ The Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted extensive special operations in November in the energy sector, releasing numerous photographs of bags containing large sums of money and audio recordings believed to involve participants in the corruption case. Searches were carried out at the homes of former Minister of Energy and Justice Herman Halushchenko, as well as close associates of President Volodymyr Zelensky, including Timur Mindich.

The bureau has filed charges against six members of a criminal group, including Mindich. Former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov is also involved in the case. Halushchenko has been dismissed from his post, and the Rada is to approve his and Minister of Energy Svitlana Grinchak's dismissals. It is also noted that Zelensky has imposed sanctions on Mindich and his financier, Oleksandr Tsukerman.