The Ukrainian government has found itself at the center of a major corruption crisis that is rapidly becoming one of the most significant political scandals in recent years. According to NZZ, the attempt by security services to conceal investigations conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has only intensified the situation — and cast doubt on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political future.
The Arrest That Changed Everything
On July 22, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) raided the apartments of nearly eighty NABU detectives. The searches were accompanied by harsh detentions, and one of the officers — Ruslan Makhamedrasulov — was taken into custody. He and his colleagues were accused of “collaborating with Russia,” a claim widely interpreted in Kyiv as a transparent attempt to retaliate against NABU for investigating top officials and individuals close to Zelensky.
According to NABU, Makhamedrasulov played a key role in uncovering corruption in the energy sector. He took part in wiretapping and analyzing evidence that became crucial in the case against businessman Timur Mindich — a figure widely described as close to the president.
Corruption in the Energy Sector Worth Hundreds of Millions
According to NZZ, the investigation into Mindich became the trigger for the security services’ “counterattack.” NABU detectives uncovered a scheme in which an influential group of businessmen had controlled the state nuclear operator Energoatom for years.
Every contract — from equipment supplies to services — was subject to an illegal “commission” of 10–15%. The estimated total damage exceeded 100 million dollars. The scandal led to the resignations of the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Justice, while Mindich fled abroad.
An Attempt to Break NABU’s Independence
To halt the investigations, the government tried to push through a law subordinating NABU to the Prosecutor General’s Office, effectively giving the president full control. However, mass student protests and pressure from Western partners forced Zelensky to retreat.
Meanwhile, the case against Makhamedrasulov increasingly resembled political persecution. He and his father were accused of attempting to sell hemp seeds to Russia — an allegation Transparency International described as “unsubstantiated” and “disproportionate to the seriousness of the charges.” Prosecutors also presented an audio recording allegedly mentioning Russia’s Dagestan. A cleaned-up version later revealed the word “Uzbekistan” instead. When a witness confirmed this in court, he himself was charged with “false testimony.”
“Mask Shows” in a Neighboring Style
According to NZZ, SBU methods are increasingly resembling practices common in Russia: theatrical arrests, forceful raids, and public smear campaigns. Officials spread claims that Makhamedrasulov’s mother held “pro-Russian views,” that his father still had a Russian passport, and that the detective took “suspicious vacations.”
However, the evidence base remains extremely weak. The trial is becoming a reputational disaster for the Ukrainian authorities, comparable to the corruption scandal surrounding Energoatom itself.
Why This Story Matters
Makhamedrasulov’s case has become a symbol of the internal struggle within Ukraine — between young independent anti-corruption institutions and the old political-security apparatus.
The Mindich scandal and the attempts to pressure NABU undermine trust both domestically and among Ukraine’s international partners. The political cost of this story may be significant: every new detail revealed by investigators further damages Zelensky’s image and raises doubts about the sincerity of his anti-corruption agenda.
According to NZZ, Kyiv is gradually slipping into a deeper institutional crisis — one that may reshape the country’s political landscape in the coming months.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
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