Halushchenko's Asset Declaration Under Review
Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) has initiated a full verification of the asset declaration filed by former Justice and Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, covering the period from January to 19 November 2025. This process can take between 120 and 180 days, though the full review has not yet formally commenced. Notably, no such full-scale declaration checks or lifestyle monitoring of Halushchenko were conducted in previous years. This case highlights the ongoing, high-stakes anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, which are closely watched by international partners.
Arrest and Allegations
Halushchenko failed to declare a 647-square-meter property located on Dobrovolchykh Batalioniv Street in Kyiv. Officers from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) documented his presence at this residence during 'Operation Midas'. On 18 February 2026, Halushchenko confirmed he was renting the house from Zakharčenko on a daily basis for $130.
Herman Halushchenko is currently under arrest, having been detained on 17 February 2026 on suspicion of money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. On 2 March, the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court upheld the decision to keep him in custody. Bail for his release was set at 200 million hryvnias. Halushchenko stated:
“This bail amount essentially forces me to remain in the pre-trial detention center without the possibility of posting it.”
NABU detectives detained Halushchenko on 15 February 2026 as he attempted to leave Ukraine. As part of 'Operation Midas', on 10 November 2025, NABU announced suspicions against seven individuals, including:
- Businessman Timur Mindich
- Former advisor to the Energy Minister, Ihor Myroniuk
- Security Executive Director of the 'Energoatom' company, Dmytro Basov
- Oleksandr Zuckerman
- Ihor Fursenko
- Lesia Ustymenko
- Liudmyla Zorina
In intercepted recordings, the figure of Herman Halushchenko was referred to as 'The Professor' and 'Sigizmund'. Halushchenko emphasized that for the past ten years, the house he was found in had been rented out.
“Before that, I lived in a different house. However, after the attempt on my life in 2022, I was provided with security. I had to change my places of residence,”he noted.
The situation surrounding Herman Halushchenko remains tense, with further developments awaiting decisions from NAZK and law enforcement agencies.
The Halushchenko case underscores the critical importance of proactive work by Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, particularly concerning high-profile officials. The absence of declaration checks in prior years may point to systemic weaknesses in corruption oversight mechanisms. The continuation of this investigation and the verification of his assets could represent a significant step in strengthening public trust in anti-corruption institutions and demonstrating their capacity to combat high-level graft.