Zelensky dismissed Halushchenko and Hrynchuk from the NSDC: what’s next?
14 November 2025 17:34
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed Herman Halushchenko and Svitlana Hrynchuk from the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). This decision was the first step before their possible resignation from the posts of Minister of Justice and Minister of Energy. This is stated in the presidential decree, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Next week, the Verkhovna Rada plans to consider the dismissal of two members of the government. The resignation was submitted by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy, Housing and Utilities also supported Svitlana Hrynchuk’s resignation, which paves the way for the parliament to make a decision.
As a reminder, on November 12, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after exposing a large-scale corruption scheme in the energy sector, asked the Prime Minister to dismiss the Ministers of Justice and Energy, Herman Halushchenko and Svitlana Hrynchuk.
What is known about corruption at Energoatom?
on November 10, the NABU announced that it had uncovered a corruption scheme at Energoatom involving current and former energy officials. The criminals received undue benefits from the company’s contractors in the amount of 10-15% of the value of contracts, using the so-called “barrier” scheme to control payments and the status of suppliers.
The scheme involved a former deputy head of the State Property Fund, who became an advisor to the Minister of Energy, and a former law enforcement officer, who was the executive director of physical protection at Energoatom. Law enforcement officers found that the actual management of a strategic enterprise with an annual revenue of over UAH 200 billion was carried out by unauthorized persons without formal authority.
In addition, the NABU uncovered the “Legalization” scheme, in which a Kyiv office associated with the family of former Russian MP Andrii Derkach laundered money through a network of non-resident companies. About $100 million passed through this scheme, keeping “black books” and issuing cash outside of Ukraine.
According to MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak, the members of the criminal organization identified so far include:
- former advisor to the Minister of Energy Ihor Myroniuk;
- dmytro Basov, Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security of Energoatom JSC;
- businessman and head of the criminal organization Timur Mindich;
- four people – employees of the back office for money laundering.
At the same time, NABU reported only on searches at Energoatom, without mentioning Mindich or Halushchenko.
For his part, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for transparency at Energoatom and the inevitability of punishment for corruption schemes in the energy sector.
