EditPoroshenko’s party demands Ukrainian government resignation amid explosive graft scandal
Russia cannot exploit a scandal if Ukraine demonstrates real zero tolerance, a source close to the former President’s party told EUalive
Former President Petro Poroshenko’s European Solidarity party has launched a parliamentary bid to oust Ukraine’s government, branding it “unprofessional and corrupt” in the wake of a massive anti-corruption raid exposing over $100 million siphoned from state nuclear giant Energoatom through kickbacks demanded by a shadowy network tied to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s inner circle.
The opposition’s move escalates a scandal that erupted when Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) unveiled “Operation Midas,” documenting a “high-level criminal organization” extorting 10-15% bribes from Energoatom contractors, laundering funds while Russians bombard the grid, leaving millions in darkness for up to 14 hours daily.
European Solidarity accused the scheme of diverting funds meant for energy defences, stating: “One hundred million dollars that could have gone to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ended up in Energoatom corruption schemes.”
At the epicenter: Timur Mindich, Zelenskyy’s pre-presidency business partner in Kvartal 95 studio, who fled Ukraine hours before NABU raided his Kyiv apartment—crossing the border at 2:09 AM on November 10, reportedly using an Israeli passport or with Presidential Office approval, despite wartime exit bans requiring top-level clearance.
The party questioned: “How did Mindich manage to calmly leave the country, while opposition MPs are not allowed to exit even for international meetings?”
Mindich, dubbed Zelenskyy’s “wallet” and curator of energy appointments, allegedly controlled flows from Centrenergo to the State Property Fund, diamond trades in Russia, and even fortifications via contractor Pronin—turning the Cabinet into the “Cabinet of Mindich.”
NABU’s 1,000-hour “Midas tapes” from his bugged flat captured codenamed figures like “Karlson” (Mindich) and “Professor” (ex-Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko, now Justice Minister) orchestrating rackets.
European Solidarity warned the scandal risks “losing the trust of our partners and international support, without which Ukraine is doomed,” demanding Zelenskyy’s “clear and decisive response” or face accusations of “high treason.”
They called for a “government of national salvation,” ending the “coalition of Servant of the People and OPZZh with their Moscow handlers.” OPZZh is a Ukrainian political party that was one of the largest pro-Russian forces in parliament before and during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
A source close to Poroshenko’s party told EUalive.net: “The latest corruption scandal is unprecedented for wartime Ukraine both in its scale and the boldness… Many are asking how Mr. Mindich… managed to leave just hours before searches, despite borders closed without explicit authorization from the President’s Office.”
Rating damage at “8 out of 10,” the source reserved full judgment pending Zelenskyy’s circle’s involvement, noting Mindich joins ex-Vice PM Oleksiy Chernyshov and others under scrutiny.
“The last 2 points I reserve until we fully understand the extent of involvement of the President’s circle”, the source said.
The insider stressed: “Silencing corruption will only harm Ukraine. Addressing it transparently… will not. Russia cannot exploit a scandal if Ukraine demonstrates real zero tolerance.”
Amid outages from Russian strikes reducing generation to “zero,” they urged preserving NABU/SAPO independence, warning official rhetoric clashes with detaining a NABU detective on “politically motivated grounds.”
Zelenskyy praised NABU’s actions, demanding “inevitability of punishment” and cabinet cooperation, but opposition sees hypocrisy after his July 2025 bid to curb anti-graft bodies—reversed amid protests.
As Mindich hides in Israel or Austria, European Solidarity rallies lawmakers: “Our goal is to restore effective governance, societal unity, and trust of our partners.”
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s president from 2014 to 2019 who steered the country through the initial Russian aggression in Donbas and Crimea, has faced relentless political and legal assaults from Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration since losing the 2019 election – accusations ranging from treason to corruption that critics widely view as selective prosecution aimed at neutralizing a key rival, with over 130 criminal cases opened against him yet few resulting in convictions amid claims of fabricated evidence and judicial pressure.
Despite the onslaught, the billionaire confectionery magnate – whose Roshen empire once made him one of Europe’s richest leaders – has quietly channelled tens of millions of dollars from his personal fortune into direct military aid, funding everything from armoured vehicles and drones to field hospitals and soldier equipment through his foundation and private initiatives, earning praise from frontline commanders even as Zelenskyy’s circle downplays or ignores these contributions.
Caption: Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaks during the evening of memories of Andriy Parubiy at the Maidan in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, 1 September 2025. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
Updated: November 11, 2025 - 11:46
