Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has opened a sweeping investigation into an alleged $100 million kickback scheme involving Energoatom, the state-run nuclear energy company responsible for over half of the country’s electricity supply.

The probe comes as Ukraine braces for another winter under Russian bombardment and seeks to reassure international partners of its commitment to reform.

According to NABU, a “high-level criminal organisation” orchestrated the scheme, involving a businessman, a former adviser to the energy minister, Energoatom’s head of security, and four other employees. Investigators allege that the group controlled procurement processes and forced contractors to pay bribes of 10–15% to secure or expedite payments for projects, including protective structures at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded with a call for accountability, stating, “There must be criminal verdicts.” His remarks follow recent public pressure to preserve NABU’s independence, a key condition for Ukraine’s European Union membership bid.

Energoatom confirmed its offices were searched and pledged cooperation. Deputy Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk promised transparency, though opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced plans to seek her and former minister German Galushchenko’s dismissal.

NABU’s 15-month investigation involved 70 searches and over 1,000 hours of audio recordings. Photos released by the agency showed bags of seized cash in multiple currencies.