Corruption scandals could dampen international support for Ukraine, Poland warns

As reported by Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, Tusk said he had warned President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be “extremely sensitive” to any signs of graft among his circle, cautioning that such allegations could damage the president’s reputation.

He added that Russian and pro-Russian forces in Europe were actively spreading and amplifying narratives about corruption in Ukraine, both real and fictitious.

“Poland wants Ukraine to be an independent state with strong, honest institutions,” Ukrinform quoted Tusk.

“We want to continue supporting Ukraine and help defend it against Russia—which in turn helps protect Poland.” 

However, the PM warned that fresh scandals could make it more difficult to persuade international partners to support Kyiv. He also said he had urged Zelenskyy not to curb the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), arguing that doing so could have serious consequences.

Tusk praised Zelenskyy’s swift response to the recent Energoatom scandal and his administration’s commitment to hold those responsible to account. “But the milk has already been spilt,” Tusk said, “and the fallout will come at a high price.”

On Nov. 14, in an interview with Politico, head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, defended Zelenskyy as “a very principled man” who is not involved in the corruption scheme investigated by NABU. Yermak said the president “declared war” on graft and allowed “completely free investigations,” demonstrating the independence and effectiveness of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies.

On Nov. 10, NABU detectives carried out searches of residences of Tymur Mindich (longtime associate of Zelenskyy’s), former Energy Minister and current Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, and Energoatom offices.

NABU said it was conducting a “large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector.” The investigation contends that Mindich used his relationship with Zelenskyy to exert influence over the Energy Ministry and run a money laundering operation within Energoatom.

By Nov. 12, Energoatom’s oversight board was dissolved; Halushchenko and his successor at the Energy Ministry, Svitlana Hrynchuk, were suspended pending a parliamentary vote to dismiss them.