Zelenskyy dismisses two ministers as bribery scandal grips Ukraine energy sector

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has moved to contain growing public outrage in Ukraine over a corruption scandal in the energy sector by firing two ministers who are accused of involvement in a large-scale bribery scheme.

- Luke Harding

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, has called for personal sanctions against a friend and former business partner who is alleged to have masterminded corrupt practices

(SHUTTERSTOCK)

Ukraine's president said the pair - the justice minister Herman Halushchenko and the energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk - could no longer remain in their jobs. He also called for personal sanctions against his friend and former business partner Timur Mindich, the scheme's alleged organiser.

Acknowledging popular anger, Zelenskyy said: "There must be maximum integrity in the energy sector, in absolutely all processes. I support every investigation carried out by law enforcement and anti-corruption officials. This is an absolutely clear and consistent position for everyone."

Promising those who broke the law would be held accountable, he said: "Right now, it is extremely difficult for everyone in Ukraine - enduring power outages, Russian strikes and losses. It is absolutely unacceptable that, amid all this, there are also some [corruption] schemes in the energy sector."