Ukraine’s political leadership has been shaken by new corruption charges after anti-graft prosecutors accused a former deputy chief of staff to President Vladimir Zelensky of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar renewable energy fraud.
Investigators say the scheme falsely billed the state for electricity allegedly generated by solar plants located in Russian-controlled territory, exploiting generous government subsidies that guaranteed above-market prices for “green” power.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office estimate losses of about $3.3 million and confirmed the probe involved coordinated searches in Germany and Austria. While officials did not formally name the suspects, reporting and investigative findings point to Rostislav Shurma, who oversaw the energy sector while serving in Zelensky’s office between 2021 and 2024 and sat on the supervisory board of state energy firm Naftogaz.
The case centres on companies tied to Shurma’s brother, with Shurma denying wrongdoing and accusing investigators of misleading European authorities. Ukrainian media report he has since moved to Austria, amid claims he is seeking to avoid extradition, adding to a growing list of high-level scandals that have intensified scrutiny of Zelensky’s inner circle.
