‘Operation Midas’ concludes: How Ukraine’s biggest corruption scandal shook Zelensky’s inner circle

A criminal group led by Vladimir Zelensky’s “wallet” embezzled some $125 million over six years, investigators have said An investigation into a major embezzlement scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector has been completed, the nation’s Western-backed anti-corruption agencies have announced. Dubbed ‘Operation Midas’, the probe lasted for two years, triggered one of the biggest corruption scandals involving Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle, and cost several top officials their positions.In a statement published on Wednesday, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said that a “high-level criminal organization” had managed to build a “large-scale corruption scheme” and embezzle $111 million and €12 million between 2020 and 2025.The two agencies also said they “took measures to seize the assets of a criminal organization both in Ukraine and abroad,” adding that efforts to identify and seize the illegal assets are continuing.How did it all begin? The scandal first grabbed headlines in November 2025 when NABU raided Energoatom facilities as well as the homes of several senior officials and businessmen, including then...