Summary: A NABU investigation dubbed Operation Midas alleges associates of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy siphoned about $100 million from wartime energy projects since 2022. Reported targets include Energoatom; businessman Tymur Mindich (Kvartal 95 co‑owner) and former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov have been named in media reports. Investigators reportedly recovered cash and, according to some reports, a gold‑plated toilet linked to an apartment tied to Mindich. Zelenskyy has called for legal accountability and said criminal verdicts should follow; the probe is ongoing and allegations remain under investigation.
“Golden‑toilet” scandal deepens: Zelenskyy faces major crisis as allies accused in $100M wartime graft probe
Summary: A NABU investigation dubbed Operation Midas alleges associates of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy siphoned about $100 million from wartime energy projects since 2022. Reported targets include Energoatom; businessman Tymur Mindich (Kvartal 95 co‑owner) and former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov have been named in media reports. Investigators reportedly recovered cash and, according to some reports, a gold‑plated toilet linked to an apartment tied to Mindich. Zelenskyy has called for legal accountability and said criminal verdicts should follow; the probe is ongoing and allegations remain under investigation.
11:39 AM, 11/17/2025Politics
Allegations of wartime graft put Zelenskyy under intense scrutiny
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is confronting one of the most serious political challenges of his presidency after a money‑laundering investigation named figures from his inner circle, a former government official told Fox News Digital on condition of anonymity.
Authorities said the probe -- which the National Anti‑Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) called "Operation Midas" -- centers on projects intended to protect energy infrastructure during the war with Russia and alleges roughly $100 million was siphoned from the sector since 2022. Investigators allege some contracts were used to extract kickbacks, prompting public outrage and raising questions about leadership and accountability during wartime.
The probe highlights Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear power company, and names businessman Tymur Mindich — a co‑owner of the entertainment company Kvartal 95 — as a central figure. Media reports, including The Financial Times, say investigators recovered bags of cash and reported a gold‑plated toilet in an apartment linked to Mindich. The Kyiv Independent has described Mindich as an alleged ringleader of the network under scrutiny.
Another person named in reporting on the investigation is former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, who has been accused by some sources of abusing office and of benefiting from construction projects. These allegations remain under investigation and have not been independently verified in all details.
"Everyone who put together a corrupt scheme must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Nov. 10, stressing the need to keep Energoatom free of graft and praising anti‑corruption efforts.
The anonymous former official quoted by Fox News Digital said the alleged laundering began in 2022 and that some inside Ukraine attempted to stop it. The source also claimed that the scandal has damaged morale and public confidence, arguing that revelations of corruption make it harder to sustain national unity during the war. Those claims reflect the source’s views and have not been independently corroborated in full.
Critics quoted in media accounts suggested the scandal could have political fallout for Zelenskyy, while supporters and government officials emphasized the importance of transparent legal processes. NABU has described its inquiry as wide‑ranging; the probe and any subsequent prosecutions will determine culpability.
Fox News Digital reached out to Zelenskyy’s office for comment. The investigation remains ongoing, and reporting continues to evolve as authorities disclose more information.