A series of apparently coordinated activities, including the investigation of a corruption scheme in the Ukrainian energy sector, suggest that a move may be underway in Ukraine, likely coordinated with forces from outside, to remove Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his accomplices from power. The increasing collapse and setbacks on the front line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is likely accelerating the process.
Some of the elements include:
• On Monday, Nov. 10, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Ukraine’s Special Anticorruption Prosecutor (SAPO), after several months of investigation, searched the premises of businessman Timur Mindich and of Justice Minister German Galushchenko. Mindich is very close to Zelenskyy and is often referred to as “Zelenskyy’s wallet man.” He is co-owner of the Kvartal 95 Studio comedy club/political platform, which Zelenskyy launched in 2003. Galushchenko is the former Ukrainian Energy Minister, and since July 17 has been serving as Ukraine’s Justice Minister. The two are being investigated for corruption and money-laundering, including in Ukraine’s nuclear sector, and its leading company, Energoatom, which said it is cooperating with authorities.
On Nov. 10, the New York Times, reported in an article, “Anti-Corruption Agencies Double Down Despite Pressure from Zelenskyy”:
“The news release by the anti-corruption agencies [NABU and SAPO], and the slickly produced videos that followed, showed they were continuing to dig into suspected schemes after Mr. Zelenskyy reversed his legislative efforts to neuter the agencies in July [when Zelenskyy tried to remove the agencies of their power]. He backed down after young Ukrainians took to the streets, saying the country’s democracy must be protected.”
