Ukraine Detains Ex-Energy Minister at Polish Border in Graft Probe

Ukrainian authorities detained former Energy Minister German Galushchenko on Sunday while he attempted to cross the border into Poland, linking the action to a sprawling corruption investigation in the country's energy sector.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) confirmed the arrest in a statement, noting that detectives apprehended Galushchenko as part of the so-called Midas case. The probe, which emerged last November, alleges a scheme that siphoned off approximately $100 million through kickbacks from contractors tasked with securing critical energy infrastructure, including nuclear facilities operated by state-owned Energoatom. NABU described initial investigative actions as ongoing and conducted in line with legal requirements, promising further details soon.

Galushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 until a government reshuffle in July last year moved him to the justice portfolio, resigned in November amid the scandal's fallout. He had held witness status in the investigation before receiving a formal suspicion notice, according to Ukrainian lawmaker Aleksey Goncharenko. Reports indicate border guards removed him from a overnight train from...