Zelenskyy Dizzy Corruption Scandal, Ukrainian Military Commander Visits War Front

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy/PHOTO via X @ZelenskyyUa

JAKARTA - Ukraine's supreme military commander visited troops on the front lines in an important city in the east surrounded by Russian troops.

The frontline visit comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy grapples with the impact of the corruption scandal that ensnared his government.

After justice and energy minister Zelenskyy stepped down amid an investigation into alleged corruption in the energy sector, the government sacked the vice president of Energoatom, a state-owned nuclear power company believed by investigators to be the mastermind behind the bribery scheme.

The head of the financial, legal and procurement department of Energoatom and a consultant to the president of Energoatom were also dismissed in the clean-up', said Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

As reported by the Associated Press, Thursday, November 13, the Kyiv court began listening to evidence from an anti-corruption watchdog whose 15-month investigation, including 1,000 hours of wiretapping, has resulted in the detention of five people and involved seven others in a scheme suspected of generating around $100 million.

Tymur Mindich, co-owner of media production company Kvartal 95 owned by Zelenskyy, is suspected of being the mastermind behind the conspiracy. Its whereabouts are unknown.

The investigation has sparked questions about what the country's top officials know about the scheme.

It also evoked memories of Zelenskyy's efforts last summer to limit Ukraine's anti-corruption control agency.

He withdrew his statement after widespread demonstrations in Ukraine and pressure from the European Union.

While the Ukrainian people expressed their anger and distrust over the scandal that was exposed, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union would disburse a loan of 6 billion euros (US$ 7 billion) to Ukraine on Thursday and pledged more funding for Kyiv.

"We will meet Ukraine's financial needs over the next two years," he said in a speech at the European Parliament.