The Government of Ukraine Continues to Clean Up: It's the Turn of the House of the Conglomerate, the Former Minister of Home Affairs and the Tax Office to be Ransacked

Illustration of SBU Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Security Service of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian security officials searched the home of billionaire businessman Ihor Kolomoiskiy or Igor Kolomoisky on Wednesday, in what some media said was an investigation into possible financial crimes.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) did not immediately return a request for comment on the report, while Kolomoiskiy could not be reached for comment.

A senior official confirmed that Kolomoiskiy's house had been searched, but did not specify a reason for the search.

Kolomoiskiy is one of Ukraine's wealthiest people and was once an ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who launched a crackdown on wealthy businessmen known as "oligarchs" in late 2021, before Russia launched a full-scale invasion.

Kolomoiskiy, who is from the central city of Dnipro and owns various assets, including one of the most influential television channels in Ukraine, supported President Zelensky's election campaign in 2019.

Meanwhile, Ukrainska Pravda said Wednesday's search was related to investigations into alleged embezzlement of oil products and customs evasion, carried out by the SBU and the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine.

In a separate raid, former interior minister Arsen Avakov told Ukrainian media his house had been searched as part of an investigation into Ukraine's purchase of Airbus helicopters six years ago, citing the BBC.

The move followed a deadly helicopter crash outside a kindergarten on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv that killed 14 people, including the interior minister, his entourage and a child at the crash site.

As well as the residence of the two, the main tax office in Kyiv was also reportedly searched.

Ukraine's anti-corruption officials are also investigating the case, in which they suspect eight people of embezzling assets and funds from a state-owned oil company previously linked to Kolomoiskiy.

It is known, Ukraine has launched a massive anti-corruption and purge movement.

President Volodymr Zelensky said the raids were necessary to ensure "people don't abuse power".

"Unfortunately, in some areas, the only way to guarantee legitimacy is to replace leaders, along with implementing institutional changes," criticized President Zelensky.

Ukraine is under increasing pressure from its Western partners, especially the European Union, to tackle corruption.

Ten top Ukrainian officials resigned last week as part of the purge, including the deputy head of President Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.

Several deputy ministers and regional governors were also eliminated. President Zelensky said any internal problems holding the country back would be cleared up to help "Ukraine's rapprochement with European institutions".