Ukraine's Corruption Storm Hits Hard

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces a tough time. A big corruption scandal is shaking up his government. It's the biggest challenge since Russia's full-scale invasion. Last week, Zelenskyy fired two top officials and punished some associates. They were involved in stealing $100 million from the energy sector. Contractors paid kickbacks to get business with the state nuclear company. But this hasn't calmed things down. Ukrainians are already dealing with power outages from Russian attacks. Now, they're angry about corruption in the energy sector. Many want Zelenskyy to fire his long-time chief of staff, Andrii Yermak. Some see Yermak as Ukraine's unofficial vice president. Zelenskyy and Yermak haven't been accused of wrongdoing. But critics say more senior leaders need to be held accountable. They want to restore public trust. Zelenskyy's term ended in May 2024, but he's still in power. He says elections can't happen while Russia occupies part of the country. Critics say Zelenskyy must also win back the trust of Western allies. Their support is crucial for the war effort and ending the conflict. Anastasiia Radina, head of parliament's anti-corruption committee, said on Facebook. By keeping Yermak, Zelenskyy is making the crisis worse. Corruption has been a big problem in Ukraine since it became independent. Zelenskyy was elected to fight it. But now, a big scandal has hit. Investigators found high-ranking officials pressured contractors to pay kickbacks. They used code names and secret language in their conversations. One person was called "Ali Baba, " but their identity is unknown. After the scandal broke, parliament approved the firing of the energy and justice ministers. Zelenskyy's office also punished some associates, like Tymur Mindich. He's a co-owner of Zelenskyy's media company. The scandal came just as Russian strikes left millions without power. Earlier, Zelenskyy faced criticism for trying to weaken anti-corruption agencies. Political pressure is growing. Zelenskyy's opponents say it's hard to believe Yermak didn't know about the scheme. But they have no evidence. Yermak hasn't spoken publicly about calls for his resignation. However, he's tried to strengthen his support. He asked to meet with Ukraine's popular former army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. But the request was denied. Yermak met Zelenskyy over 15 years ago. He's key in managing relations with the U. S. and other Western countries. He also works on possible ceasefire scenarios with Russia. Yermak has been with Zelenskyy on every trip abroad since the invasion. He's seen as very powerful.