President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced a large-scale reform of the country’s energy sector management system. The head of state declared the start of a process of “comprehensive cleansing and updating” in this area, which includes a number of key initiatives.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Personnel Changes in Strategic Structures
Zelensky instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to promptly submit a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada regarding the update of the composition of the National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Public Utilities (NEURC). The president also announced a change in leadership at the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate and the State Energy Supervision Inspectorate. Additionally, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was tasked with submitting a candidate for the new head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine to parliament.
Restarting ARMA and Asset Audit
Zelensky emphasized the need for a complete reboot of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). According to him, the competition for the position of the new head of the agency should be completed by the end of the current year.
The president also initiated an audit of assets that previously belonged to Russian entities and collaborators who fled to the Russian Federation. In the near future, these properties are planned to be prepared for sale so that they can contribute to strengthening defense capabilities and filling the state budget of Ukraine.
“All such properties must operate at one hundred percent in the interests of Ukraine, to ensure our defense and fill the budget of Ukraine,” Zelensky emphasized.
On November 10, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reported the exposure of a criminal organization that systematically received illegal benefits from Energoatom contractors amounting to 10-15% of the contract value. According to the investigation, about 100 million dollars were laundered through a back office in the center of Kyiv. The premises of this office, according to investigators, belonged to the family of Andriy Derkach – a former member of parliament and now a senator of the Russian Federation, who is involved in other criminal proceedings by NABU and SAP.
Among the figures in the case is former business partner of Volodymyr Zelensky from “Quarter 95” Timur Mindich, who, according to law enforcement, has left Ukraine. The case also involves former Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko, for whom the government initiated a corresponding submission for dismissal from the Minister of Justice, and former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. NABU reported suspicions against eight individuals, five of whom were detained, and some have already had preventive measures chosen in the form of arrest with the possibility of bail.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko also confirmed that she submitted a proposal to parliament regarding the dismissal of Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk.
NABU detective Oleksandr Abakumov stated on the air of “Ukrainian Truth” that during the investigation of this case, detectives recorded the involvement of four ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers at different times. This concerns officials from various periods, not just current ministers.