Ukraine has detained a deputy energy minister suspected of accepting a bribe of up to $500,000. This action is part of the country’s efforts to combat corruption among public officials while still facing the ongoing Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) announced on Monday that they had arrested the minister in connection with a scheme aimed at smuggling mining equipment out of war-torn Eastern Ukraine. Three alleged accomplices have also been apprehended.
Ukraine is seeking to intensify its fight against official corruption as part of its efforts to demonstrate its qualifications for membership in the European Union (EU). The SBU’s announcement did not disclose the identity of the minister or his accomplices; however, Ukrainian opposition politician Yaroslav Zheleznyak named the deputy minister as Oleksandr Kheilo.
The minister was responsible for securing essential energy equipment during the conflict. According to the SBU, Kheilo allegedly demanded money from representatives of the mining industry to allow the transfer of equipment from mines in the frontline-affected Donetsk region to a coal basin in Western Ukraine.
“The equipment in question is unique and rare, belonging to one of the state-owned coal companies located in the most active area of the eastern front – Pokrovsk,” the SBU stated in a press release. “In the spring of 2024, industry representatives contacted the deputy minister to obtain permission to evacuate the equipment from the war zone and use it in mines in a western region. However, the official responsible for preserving the mining equipment requested payment for its removal,” they added.
The suspects were arrested while receiving $100,000 of the total bribe amount demanded of $500,000. Investigators had previously documented the receipt of an additional $200,000. Kheilo has now been dismissed, according to a government channel on Telegram.
Ukraine has been struggling with corruption for several years. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rose to power on an anti-corruption platform and has dismissed a series of officials, including the defense minister last year due to corruption scandals within the military. In April, the agriculture minister was detained and fired over allegations of his involvement in the illegal acquisition of state-owned land valued at $7 million.