NABU explains pause in releasing audio from Energoatom corruption case

According to Abakumov, the bureau adopted a “clear strategy” for disclosing information from the outset of the investigation.

“At the initial stage, the tapes did their job — they explained to the public the essence of the scheme and its scale,” he said.

He noted that NABU released audio excerpts immediately after suspects were formally notified. Investigators are now focused on building cases against additional participants in the alleged criminal organization.

“That means it is more important for us now to preserve the integrity of the evidence and not give suspects unnecessary hints about what exactly has been recorded and how,” Abakumov said.

Addressing questions about financial monitoring, Abakumov said the issue had already been discussed in detail during a session of the Ukrainian parliament’s temporary investigative commission.

“All key questions were raised there, and answers were provided by the relevant institution,” he said. “It was, in essence, a several-hour open dialogue, and many issues have already been addressed in that format.”

Energoatom corruption case

On Nov. 10, NABU announced it had uncovered a criminal organization allegedly engaged in the systematic extraction of kickbacks from contractors of Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company Energoatom, ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values.

In the days that followed, NABU released several audio recordings involving individuals believed to be connected to the scheme.

According to prosecutors speaking during court hearings, those named include businessman and Kvartal-95 studio co-founder Timur Mindich, identified in recordings under the code name “Karlson”; former Energy Ministry adviser Ihor Myroniuk (“Rocket”); Energoatom’s executive director for security, Dmytro Basov (“Tenor”); and four alleged members of a so-called “money-laundering back office”: Oleksandr Tsukerman (“Sugarman”), Ihor Fursenko (“Ryoshyk”), Lesia Ustymenko, and Liudmyla Zorina. All were formally notified of suspicion.

NABU has said the suspects laundered money from an office in central Kyiv belonging to the family of former lawmaker Andriy Derkach, who is accused of treason and illicit enrichment and is now a Russian senator. One of the published recordings includes a reference to sending “a two-room apartment to Moscow.”

Mindich and Tsukerman have left Ukraine and are now on a wanted list. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Unity Oleksii Chernyshov has also been notified of suspicion for illicit enrichment.

Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk were dismissed following the revelations.