释新闻｜两名部长辞职、总统亲信是主谋，能源贪腐案对乌克兰影响多大？

Core Points - A significant corruption scandal involving Ukrainian President Zelensky's business partners and political allies has emerged, disrupting Ukraine's wartime energy situation [1][6] - The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has identified a "large criminal group" within the Ministry of Energy, with money laundering activities amounting to nearly $100 million [1][3] - The scandal could potentially impact Zelensky's approval ratings and provoke political crises, which may lead to military setbacks for Ukraine [1][9] Group 1: Corruption Investigation - The NABU initiated "Operation Midas," a 15-month investigation involving 1,000 hours of recordings and around 70 searches, revealing that the criminal group received kickbacks of 10% to 15% from contractors of Energoatom [3][4] - Key figures in the scandal include Timur Minkych, who is suspected of being the mastermind and has fled Ukraine, and other implicated individuals such as Demytriy Basov and Oleksandr Chukman [4][5] Group 2: Political Implications - The scandal is reminiscent of past political disasters in Ukraine, particularly the downfall of former President Poroshenko, who faced similar corruption allegations [8][9] - Public trust in Zelensky has decreased, with recent polls indicating a drop to around 60% approval, raising concerns about his ability to maintain support amid the corruption crisis [8][9] Group 3: Energy Sector Impact - The ongoing corruption scandal is occurring during a critical time when Ukraine's energy infrastructure is under attack, leading to severe power shortages and public discontent [6][7] - The management of Energoatom has faced long-standing corruption allegations, which could further complicate the country's energy security and operational stability [6][7]