Europe

Major anti-corruption operation in the Ukrainian energy sector

According to Ukrinform, which cites a well-informed law enforcement source, the searches also included the premises of businessman Tymur Mindich, a close ally of Zelensky and co-owner of the production studio Kvartal 95, founded by Zelensky when he was a successful comedian before running for office

10 November 2025

Il Ministro dell'Energia ucraino Svitlana Grynchuk (R) parla con i giornalisti durante una conferenza stampa presso il Ministero dell'Energia dell'Ucraina a Kiev il 10 novembre 2025, durante l'invasione russa dell'Ucraina. Il 10 novembre 2025 l'agenzia anticorruzione ucraina ha dichiarato di aver condotto incursioni su larga scala nel settore energetico del Paese, un'operazione che arriva dopo mesi di lotte intestine sull'impegno di Kiev contro la corruzione. (Foto di Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Large-scale anti-corruption operation in Ukraine, where authorities have conducted large-scale searches in the country's energy sector, a step that comes after months of infighting over Kiev's efforts to fight corruption. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) said it conducted 70 searches after a 15-month investigation, in cooperation with the specialised anti-corruption prosecutor's office, within the sector hit by Russian attacks since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

According to Ukrinform, which cites a well-informed law enforcement source, the searches also targeted the premises of businessman Tymur Mindich, a close Zelensky ally and co-owner of the production studio Kvartal 95, which Zelensky founded when he was a successful comedian before running for office.

According to Ukrinform, the searches also targeted the Minister of Justice German Galushchenko, who previously held the position of Minister of Energy. Nabu, however, did not name the people targeted by the investigation.

In the crosshairs of Energoatom contracts

Nabu claimed to have uncovered a 'high-level criminal organisation' based on obtaining bribes from contracts awarded by the main nuclear energy supplier, Energoatom. Releasing audio recordings of the alleged perpetrators discussing the scheme, it claimed that around $100 million went through a money laundering operation. Energoatom confirmed that it had been searched and assured to cooperate with the investigation, but did not comment on the substance of the allegations. Zelensky has also not yet commented on the allegations. "For now, nothing is clear," the ;;his assistant Dmytro Lytvyn told reporters.

"If Nabu has done a good job, this can only be supported," he added. The move comes months after Zelensky tried to strip both the Nabu and the anti-corruption prosecutor's office of their powers, triggering a rare public backlash and the biggest protests since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. A mobilisation that forced the Ukrainian president to backtrack, in part because of fears that the reforms could undermine Kiev's ambitions to join the European Union. Accusations of misappropriation of funds from the energy industry come at a time when the sector is under relentless attack by Russia and the country faces domestic energy shortages have fuelled new public anger.

Drones on nuclear power plant in Belgium

Drones were spotted yesterday in Belgium over Liège airport and later, on Sunday evening, three drones were spotted over the Doel nuclear power plant. This was reported by Le Soir. Regarding the drones over Liège airport, air traffic was interrupted after a first report around 7.30 pm; two more drones were then reported around 7.45 pm and traffic resumed around 8.25 pm. With regard to the Doel power station, on the other hand, the newspaper, citing the energy group Engie, reports that three drones were spotted shortly before 10 p.m. According to Engie spokeswoman Hellen Smeets, these drone sightings have no impact on the activities of the power station.

In recent months, these reports have been linked to the hybrid war Russia is also waging in Europe, but there is currently no evidence of Moscow's involvement in these latest incidents in Belgium.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says on Telegram: 'All these drone attacks by Putin are tests, to see what they are capable of. A test of how America will react to the current threat to European countries that are in Nato. There is no smoke without fire, and all these tests, in my opinion, are dangerous for the integrity of Europe."

Meanwhile, on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Russian military is carrying out attacks against Ukrainian forces in a wooded area near the Olivino railway station, in the direction of Kupyansk, according to the commander of the assault unit of the 1486th Motorised Rifle Regiment, codenamed Lovets. Tass reports that. "We are currently conducting reconnaissance and launching attacks against enemy positions in the forested area southeast of the Olivino railway station," he said in a video released by the Russian Defence Ministry. The commander emphasised that the Russian troops continue to advance and will complete their assigned mission.

Yesterday on the Ukrainian front there were 265 clashes between the Ukrainian Defence Forces and Russian invaders, writes the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in an update posted on Facebook this morning.

The Russians carried out one missile attack and 35 air strikes, using five missiles and 104 glide bombs. In addition, the Russians carried out 3,469 artillery bombardments, including 91 with multiple rocket launch systems (MLRS), and deployed 2,452 kamikaze drones.

The Russian Air Force hit the settlements of Pokrovske and Radisne in the Dnipropetrovsk region; Rivnopillia, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Dobropillia, Lukianivske and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Ukraine, army claims raid on Crimean oil facility

Ukrainian missile and artillery forces hit an enemy group and three other important Russian targets. Ukrainian special forces in aprticular claimed to have hit the Hvardiyske oil depot pumping station in Crimea overnight, using drones. The site, also targeted on Friday, 'is crucial for the refuelling of military installations and transportation of the enemy army', Ukrainian special forces said on Telegram, without providing further details on the extent of the damage.

As counted by the Ukrinform news agency, total Russian combat losses since the beginning of the Russian invasion, from 24 February 2022 to 10 November 2025, amounted to approximately 1,152,160 people, of which 1,090 on the last day.

A state of air alert was declared last night in several regions of Ukraine due to the threat of an attack by Russian troops with ballistic missiles, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.