Ukrainian parliament sacks two ministers amid major corruption scandal

• The probe into an alleged $100 million scheme to control contracting at the state nuclear agency has stirred public anger
• Both cabinet ministers deny any wrongdoing in the scandal

KYIV: Ukraine’s parliament voted on Wednesday to dismiss the energy and justice ministers after a major corruption investigation into the energy sector sparked the country’s biggest wartime political crisis.

The probe into an alleged $100 million scheme to control contracting at the state nuclear agency has stirred public anger at Ukraine’s leadership as it struggles to fend off Russian forces.

Justice Minister German Galushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 until 2025, and current Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk had both resigned earlier under pressure from President Volodymyr Zelensky. Both cabinet ministers deny any wrongdoing in the scandal.

Opposition forces have called for tougher measures after news of the probe rattled Kyiv’s political class, including a total government overhaul and the dismissal of Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff. Anti-corruption authorities have said their investigation, whose chief suspect is Zelensky’s former business partner, includes other state agencies.