Former energy minister Galushchenko declared suspect in Midas case
Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) charged former Energy Minister German Galushchenko on Monday, accusing him of participating in a criminal organization and large-scale money laundering tied to the "Midas" corruption scheme in the energy sector.
Galushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 to 2025 and later as justice minister, was detained by NABU detectives on Sunday, while attempting to leave Ukraine.
According to the investigation, in February 2021, members of a criminal organization — uncovered by NABU and SAPO in November 2025 — registered a fund on the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla to attract about $100 million in purported "investments" as part of a laundering operation.
The fund was led by a professional money launderer holding citizenship in Seychelles and St. Kitts and Nevis, a longtime associate of the group. Galushchenko's family appeared among the "investors," with two companies created on the Marshall Islands integrated into a St. Kitts and Nevis trust structure; beneficiaries were listed as his ex-wife and four children to conceal his involvement.
These companies purchased fund shares, and organization members transferred funds to accounts in three Swiss banks on Galushchenko's behalf.
During his time in office, over $112 million in cash from unlawful energy-sector activities reached the group through a trusted intermediary known as "Rocket."
Investigators established that more than $7.4 million was transferred to accounts controlled by Galushchenko's family, plus over 1.3 million Swiss francs and 2.4 million euros issued in cash or directly transferred in Switzerland. Part of the funds covered children's tuition at prestigious Swiss institutions, with the remainder placed on deposit to generate additional income for family expenses.
Galushchenko faces charges under Part 2 of Article 255 (participation in a criminal organization) and Part 3 of Article 209 (money laundering) of Ukraine's Criminal Code.
More about Mindichgate
The "Midas" probe, launched in November 2025, exposed a scheme where contractors to state nuclear operator Energoatom paid 10-15% kickbacks to avoid payment blocks or loss of supplier status.
Funds were laundered through a Kyiv office linked to the family of former lawmaker Andriy Derkach (now a Russian senator), with businessmen Oleksandr Tsukerman ("Sugarman") and Tymur Mindich ("Carlson") — the latter described as close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — as alleged co-organizers. Mindich allegedly influenced Halushchenko and then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in 2025.
Former Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov has already been charged for illicit enrichment in connection to the case.