Ukraine’s Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko has been suspended following a sweeping investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) into large-scale corruption at the state nuclear energy company Energoatom. The decision was announced by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko after an extraordinary cabinet meeting on November 11. Deputy Justice Minister for European Integration Liudmyla Suhak will temporarily assume Halushchenko’s duties.

Halushchenko, who previously served as energy minister, said he supported the decision to suspend him during the ongoing investigation, calling it a “civilised and correct course of action.” He added that he intends to defend himself through legal means and present his position once the inquiry concludes.

The investigation, known as Operation Midas, is one of Ukraine’s most significant anti-corruption cases in recent years. It focuses on a sophisticated kickback and money-laundering network within Energoatom that allegedly funneled tens of millions of dollars from the company through shell businesses and corrupt officials. NABU claims that private firms seeking contracts with Energoatom were forced to pay bribes amounting to 10–15% of their contracts, a practice referred to by participants as the “barrier.” Companies refusing to cooperate were denied payment or excluded from future tenders.

According to NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), the alleged scheme was orchestrated by Tymur Mindich, a businessman and former co-owner of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s television company Kvartal 95. Mindich, identified in NABU materials by the alias “Karlson,” reportedly left Ukraine just hours before raids began on November 10.

The investigation has so far implicated several high-profile figures, including former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, former Defense Minister and current National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, and Halushchenko himself. Prosecutors allege that Mindich exerted influence over both Halushchenko and Umerov through personal and political connections.

NABU’s recordings, released as part of the case, capture coded conversations among those involved. In the tapes, Mindich, Halushchenko (“Professor” or “Hera”), Ihor Myroniuk (“Rocket”), and Dmytro Basov (“Tenor”) discuss payments, contracts, and bribes. Myroniuk, a former adviser to Halushchenko and ex-deputy head of the State Property Fund, allegedly played a central role in collecting kickbacks from contractors, while Basov, Energoatom’s former security chief, managed the company’s physical protection department.

Journalistic investigations by Radio Liberty and Skhemy identified all suspects charged under Operation Midas. Alongside Mindich, Myroniuk, Basov, and businessman Oleksandr Tsukerman (“Sugarman”), others named include Ihor Fursenko (“Roshyk”), Lesia Ustymenko, and Liudmyla Zorina. NABU confirmed that five of the eight accused are in custody, while Mindich and Tsukerman fled abroad.