2025年11月，烏克蘭爆發自澤連斯基2019年上任以來最嚴重的貪腐醜聞，涉案金額高達超過1億美元，直接衝擊總統及政府的公信力。本周，澤連斯基公開就貪腐案發表講話後，烏克蘭能源部長格林丘克和司法部長加盧先科隨即辭職，表明事件對政府高層造成的壓力之大。

此次貪腐案由烏克蘭國家反貪局（NABU）破獲，案件代號為“邁達斯”，調查歷時18個月，涉及能源部多名高官與商人勾結，通過操縱國營企業合同，包括烏克蘭核能公司Energoatom等，從合同金額中收取10%至15%的回扣。調查過程中，NABU進行長達1000小時的錄音分析，實施70多次搜查，繳獲大量犯罪文件與現金。根據官方通報，目前七名主要嫌疑人中已有五人被拘留，另外兩人已逃離烏克蘭，其中核心人物明季奇是澤連斯基的多年密友，曾與澤連斯基共同創辦“95街區工作室”。檢方指出，明季奇曾利用與澤連斯基的私人關係，對加盧先科、前國防部長烏梅洛夫等官員施加壓力，以促成貪腐交易。在NABU搜查前幾小時，明季奇及其“財務操盤手”米哈伊爾與亞歷山大·楚克曼緊急出境，據烏克蘭情報部門調查，可能是總檢察長辦公室檢察官安德烈·西紐克通風報信。明季奇下落不明，NABU認為其極可能逃往以色列，澤連斯基於11月13日簽署法令，對明季奇實施個人特殊經濟制裁，包括凍結其資產。

被停職的兩名部長格林丘克與加盧先科尚未正式受到指控，但反腐部門懷疑加盧先科可能從中收取個人利益。加盧先科在社交媒體上回應稱接受停職決定，但否認貪腐行為，並表示將通過法律途徑為自己辯護。NABU公佈的錄音資料中還揭露多個政府機構涉嫌違規操作或收受賄賂，包括烏克蘭最高拉達的國家反貪委員會，使案件影響範圍進一步擴大。

此次醜聞的爆發正值烏克蘭能源基礎設施遭受俄羅斯多輪空襲、供電與供暖緊張的時刻，直接激起民眾強烈憤怒。基輔居民奧萊娜·博伊科娃表示，“戰爭還在繼續，我們的這些內部敵人卻在偷錢”，而年輕人達維德則擔憂醜聞將影響歐洲各國對烏克蘭的支持，“這些貪官正在摧毀我們的聲譽和未來”。

這起事件被認為是澤連斯基任內面臨的最嚴重政治危機之一。隨著調查越來越指向總統府，澤連斯基的態度與處理方式將成為未來政治走向的關鍵。今年7月，他曾簽署法案限制反腐機構自主權，引發全國抗議與輿論批評，媒體指出其舉動可能是為干擾NABU對明季奇的調查。民調顯示，澤連斯基的支持率已從戰爭初年的70%下滑至2025年8月的35.2%，而公眾對政府貪腐的不滿被視為主要原因之一，此次醜聞無疑將進一步動搖其政治基礎。

In November 2025, Ukraine was rocked by the most serious corruption scandal since President Volodymyr Zelensky took office in 2019, involving more than $100 million and posing a direct threat to the credibility of the government. Following the public revelation of the scandal, both Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchuk and Justice Minister Denys Maliuska (note: text names) submitted their resignations, highlighting the immense pressure on the top levels of government.

The scandal was uncovered by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) in an operation code-named “Midas,” which spanned 18 months of investigation. It involved several high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Energy colluding with businessmen to manipulate contracts for state-owned enterprises, including the national nuclear company Energoatom, pocketing 10–15% kickbacks on contract values. NABU’s investigation included over 1,000 hours of audio recordings and more than 70 searches, resulting in the seizure of extensive criminal documents and cash. Of the seven main suspects, five have been detained while two have fled Ukraine.

The central figure in the scandal is Mindych, a longtime friend of Zelensky who previously co-founded the media company Studio 95 with him before entering politics. Prosecutors allege that Mindych leveraged his personal relationship with Zelensky to exert pressure on officials such as Halushchuk and former Defense Minister Umelev to facilitate corrupt dealings. In the early hours before NABU’s raid on November 10, Mindych fled Ukraine along with his financial operators Mikhail and Alexander Chukman. Ukrainian intelligence reports suggest that the escape was likely facilitated by prosecutor Andriy Synyuk from the Office of the Prosecutor General. Mindych’s current whereabouts remain unknown, though NABU believes he has likely fled to Israel. On November 13, Zelensky signed a decree imposing personal economic sanctions on Mindych, including freezing his assets.

While the two ministers who resigned have not been formally charged, NABU suspects that Justice Minister Maliuska received personal benefits from the scheme. Maliuska publicly stated that he accepted his suspension but denied any wrongdoing and pledged to defend himself through legal channels. In addition, NABU’s released recordings implicate multiple government institutions, including Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada National Anti-Corruption Committee, in illegal activities and bribery, expanding the scandal’s scope further.

The timing of the scandal, amid repeated Russian airstrikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and ongoing power and heating shortages, has fueled public outrage. Kyiv resident Olena Boykova remarked, “The war is still going on, and our internal enemies are stealing money,” while 24-year-old David expressed concern that the scandal could undermine European support for Ukraine, saying, “These corrupt officials are destroying our reputation and future.”

This crisis is widely regarded as one of the most severe political challenges Zelensky has faced. As the investigation increasingly points toward the presidential office, his response will be pivotal in determining the country’s political trajectory. Earlier this year, Zelensky signed legislation limiting the autonomy of anti-corruption agencies, triggering nationwide protests and criticism; media outlets suggested this move may have been intended to hinder NABU’s investigation into Mindych. Public approval for Zelensky has fallen sharply from 70% at the start of the war to 35.2% in August 2025, with widespread dissatisfaction over government corruption cited as a major factor. This scandal threatens to further erode confidence in Zelensky’s leadership at a critical moment for both domestic politics and Ukraine’s international standing.