Zelenskyy ally arrested trying to flee Ukraine as massive corruption probe deepens

Fox News - WorldEN 3 min read 100% complete by Emma BusseyFebruary 15, 2026 at 10:49 PM

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Ukraine's former energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, was detained Sunday while allegedly attempting to flee the country by train. The arrest, confirmed by a source to Fox News Digital, was prompted by requests from Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, NABU and SAPO, as part of a deepening investigation into corruption. Halushchenko's attempted departure suggests a potential loss of control for President Zelenskyy, according to the source. NABU's statement connects the arrest to "Operation Midas," a probe into a $100 million embezzlement scheme within the state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom. The investigation alleges funds intended for critical infrastructure were diverted through contract kickbacks. The corruption scandal has also led to changes in border operations leadership, including the dismissal of the border head in January.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Russia 50% Valerii Vavryniuk 50% Serhiy Deineko 50% Tymur Mindich 60% State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) 60% Energoatom 70% Operation Midas ×270% Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) ×275% National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) ×585% Ukraine ×390% Volodymyr Zelenskyy ×390% Herman Halushchenko ×595%

Keywords

corruption 100% anti-corruption probe 90% ukraine 80% energy minister 70% zelenskyy 70% embezzlement scheme 60% arrest 60% border 50% money-laundering 50% energoatom 40%