KYIV--President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for the dismissal of two cabinet ministers on Wednesday amid a probe into an alleged $100 million corruption scheme involving a former associate that has fuelled fresh public anger at Kyiv's wartime government.
Anti-corruption authorities said this week they had detained five people and identified two others still at large, suspected of involvement in the alleged plot to control procurement at nuclear agency Energoatom and other state enterprises.
Ukraine's biggest wartime graft scandal comes as Kyiv's outmanned and underequipped troops are struggling to fend off grinding Russian advances on the battlefield. Zelenskiy, whose former business associate from his comedy career is among the suspects, said in a video address that corruption in the energy sector - weakened by regular Russian air strikes on infrastructure - was "absolutely unacceptable".
Shortly after his remarks, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko submitted a request for parliament to dismiss Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk and Justice Minister German Galushchenko, Hrynchuk's predecessor in the post.
Galushchenko has not been identified as one of the seven suspects announced this week, but a former advisor of Galushchenko's has been. He has denied wrongdoing.
Galushchenko's voice was among those heard in a recorded conversation with some of the suspects in the case that was released by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, according to a source familiar with the matter. The minister did not respond to a Reuters request for additional comment.
Hrynchuk said earlier said she had submitted her resignation. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Svyrydenko, in a post issued later on Telegram, said her government had taken measures to remove other Energoatom officials, including a vice-president, the finance and legal director and a senior procurement official.
The probe by anti-corruption body NABU, details of which have been incrementally released in sleekly produced videos featuring the lead detective, is the latest revelation of alleged graft that has plagued Ukraine's wartime government. Showing progress in fighting corruption is central to Kyiv's bid for membership in the European Union, which officials consider key to escaping Moscow's influence.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking at a G7 meeting in Canada, told Reuters the scandal was "extremely unfortunate". She said Ukrainian authorities were "acting very forcefully."
Accusations of kickbacks in the energy sector are particularly sensitive among Ukrainians, who are facing daily power outages ahead of winter as a result of massive Russian attacks on infrastructure.It could also dampen enthusiasm among donors who have provided critical assistance to Ukraine's hobbled energy sector.
