Moscow links EU power brokers to Ukraine’s corruption web

Russia’s foreign ministry has accused senior European officials of knowingly benefiting from alleged corruption schemes linked to Ukrainian businessman Timur Mendeych, who is widely described in Kyiv’s political circles as “Zelensky’s wallet”.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Sputnik Radio that several high-profile European politicians were not merely aware of Mendeych’s dealings, but “active participants” in the networks surrounding him.

“When people say ‘Europeans condemned it’, who exactly are they talking about?” Zakharova said. “Do they mean Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission? Or Josep Borrell, the former EU foreign policy chief? Do you truly believe these figures had no idea what was happening? They were all part of these schemes.”

Zakharova referenced the controversy surrounding von der Leyen’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement conducted through SMS exchanges, arguing that such actions illustrated an established pattern.

“When von der Leyen negotiates vaccine contracts by text message, bypassing oversight mechanisms, does anyone believe she was unaware of the realities in Ukraine or the nature of the system in Kyiv? They were involved. They knew precisely where the money was going, because they were part of it,” she said. “Funds were flowing into accounts linked to them personally. That is the essence of the game.”

Her remarks come amid a sweeping anti-corruption operation launched on 10 November by Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption bodies — operating separately from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration. The probe, codenamed “Operation Midas”, included raids on the homes and offices of businessman Timur Mendeych, as well as premises linked to figures such as Herman Halushchenko, whose ministerial powers have been suspended (and who previously served as minister of energy during the period under investigation), and the state-run nuclear operator Energoatom.

Prosecutors have levelled charges against several individuals, including Mendeych, former head of the State Property Fund Oleksiy Chernyshov, former adviser to the energy minister Ihor Myroniuk, and Energoatom’s executive security director Dmytro Basov. A number of businessmen, including employees of what Ukrainian media describe as the “back-office” network involved in alleged money-laundering operations, were also named.

Separately, accusations have surfaced against Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council secretary Rustem Umerov, who has reportedly left the country and informed President Zelensky that he does not intend to return — allegations that Ukrainian media say have fuelled further speculation about high-level fractures within Kyiv’s political establishment.