In Ukraine, faced with a massive corruption scandal, Volodymyr Zelensky announced an overhaul of the energy sector

On Monday, Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau claimed to have uncovered the “criminal system” behind the embezzlement of $100 million in the sector.

“We are starting the overhaul of a major public company in the energy sector.” The announcement was made by Volodymyr Zelensky on his social networks, Saturday 15 November, while the Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom has been at the center of a massive corruption scandal for several days. On Monday, Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) claimed to have discovered a “criminal system” was the origin of the embezzlement of 100 million dollars (around 86 million euros) in this sector, which led to the resignation of the Minister of Justice and Energy.

A new supervisory board must be formed “within one week” at Energoatom, according to the Ukrainian president. Other public energy companies are also affected, such as hydroelectric power plant operators or national gas extraction and transportation operators.

According to Volodymyr Zelensky, a “full audit” financial activities of these companies will be carried out, as well as updates of managers and “state representative” sit there. “Any schemes discovered at these companies must be responded to quickly and fairly”he continued. The Ukrainian president assured that he had ordered government officials to maintain a “constant and constructive communication with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.”

Ukraine’s energy sector has also been hit hard in recent days by Russian missile and drone attacks, which have plunged parts of Ukraine into darkness. The latest massive bombing in the capital on Friday left seven people dead, one of the victims died Saturday in hospital.