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Ukraine corruption scandal: Is Putin’s GRU behind it?
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#Ukraine talks
US Special Envoy Steve #Witkoff is in #Moscow today, December 2, 2025, for high-stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a US-backedpeace plan to end the war in Ukraine
The diplomatic push comes after recent meetings in Florida where American… pic.twitter.com/irEKmtHpwJ— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) December 2, 2025
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Today’s top news #headlines include a major winter storm hitting the Northeast US, the ongoing controversy over a US Navy “double-tap” boat strike in Venezuela, and developments in the Russia-Ukraine war
US News
Weather: A significant winter storm is impacting the Northeast, expected to bring widespread snow and disrupt morning commutes.
Politics/Military: White House officials have stated that a US Navy admiral ordered the controversial second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, leading to ongoing bipartisan scrutiny and legal questions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing pressure over the incident.
Legal: The son of drug kingpin “El Chapo” has pleaded guilty to US drug trafficking charges as part of a deal with prosecutors. An appeals court has also upheld the disqualification of former Trump lawyer Alina Habba as a New Jersey federal prosecutor.
Health/Safety: A resident in Northern Arizona has died from the plague. Walmart has voluntarily recalled thousands of water bottles due to potential injury risks.
World News
Russia-Ukraine War: A Trump envoy, Steve Witkoff, is in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin in an effort to reach a peace deal, while Russia claims to have captured the key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a claim disputed by Kyiv.
, where he has called for peace and unity.Middle East: Pope Leo is wrapping up his visit toLebanon
Asia: More than 1,200 people have died across Southeast Asia due to severe flooding and landslides following record rainfall. Hong Kong authorities are investigating a deadly apartment fire that killed over 100 people.
Global Affairs: The UN has warned that AI technology could widen the inequality gap between rich and poor nations.
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White House is ‘very optimistic’ ahead of Russia-US meeting on ending Ukraine war – ABC News abcnews.go.com/International…
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#Ukraine corruption scandal: Is Putin’s GRU behind it?
Putin’s #GRU ( #Russia‘s military intelligence agency).The recent significant corruption scandal in Ukraine involving the state nuclear energy company Energoatom is being investigated by Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies, and while it is being exploited by Russian propaganda, there is no direct evidence that the current scheme was orchestrated by
However, the GRU has a documented history of coordinating past disinformation campaigns and leveraging corrupt Ukrainian officials for its own purposes.
Russian Interference in Past Ukrainian Corruption Narratives
In previous years, Russian military intelligence was directly involved in spreading false allegations and amplifying existing corruption narratives to achieve its strategic goals, which included worsening U.S.–Ukrainian relations and undermining Western support for Ukraine.
Key facts regarding past Russian involvement:
GRU Coordination: A network involving GRU lieutenants coordinated the spread of falsehoods through specific Ukrainian lawmakers and businessmen.
Andrii Derkach: This pro-Kremlin former Ukrainian lawmaker, who recently fled to Russia and became a Russian senator, has been accused by Ukraine’s SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) of receiving millions of dollars per month from the GRU to create security companies that would assist the 2022 Russian invasion forces. Derkach was also a central figure in spreading the Biden-Ukraine conspiracy theory, a campaign linked to Russian intelligence efforts to interfere with U.S. politics.
Weaponized Corruption: Analysts at the Atlantic Council and other sources note that Putin consistently uses “weaponized corruption” tactics to weaken Ukraine and Europe from within.
Current Scandal vs. Russian Involvement
The current, separate $100 million Energoatom scandal involves a scheme to misappropriate funds through inflated contracts.
Investigation by Independent Bodies: The current investigation is being handled by Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption bodies, specifically the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), which were designed to operate independently of the President.
Domestic Focus: The focus of the current domestic investigation is on Ukrainian nationals, including high-level officials and business partners close to President Zelenskyy’s circle.
Exploitation by Russia: While the scandal is a serious domestic issue, Russian state media and propaganda are actively using it to portray Ukraine’s government as illegitimate and corrupt to their own advantage.
In summary, while Russia’s GRU has a proven track record of orchestrating past disinformation and corruption schemes in Ukraine for strategic gain, the current large-scale Energoatom scandal appears to be an internal Ukrainian matter that is being exploited by the Kremlin for propaganda purposes.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 2, 2025
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Ukraine corruption scandal and peace negotiations 2025
#corruption #scandal in #Ukraine‘s energy sector led to the resignation of top officials, including President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and lead peace negotiator, Andriy Yermak. This scandal has significantly weakened Ukraine’s political position and complicated ongoing, US-led peace negotiations with Russia. In November and December 2025, a major
The Corruption Scandal (November 2025)
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) uncovered an alleged scheme to embezzle and launder at least $100 million from the state-owned nuclear power operator, Energoatom.
Key details of the scandal:
Allegations Insiders allegedly demanded kickbacks of up to 15% on contracts, including for critical infrastructure like shelters for power plants.
Key Figures The primary suspect identified is Tymur Mindich, a former business partner of President Zelenskyy, who has since fled the country.
Resignations In light of the allegations, Andriy Yermak resigned as Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and chief negotiator on November 28, 2025, after anti-corruption agents searched his home. Two government ministers had also left their posts earlier in the month.
Public and International Reaction The scandal has caused outrage in Ukraine, where citizens are enduring daily power blackouts due to Russian attacks, making the embezzlement of energy funds appear as “looting”. Western allies, including the EU and US, are closely monitoring the investigations, as fighting corruption is a key condition for continued aid and potential EU accession.
Impact on Peace Negotiations
The timing of the scandal has directly affected ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, led by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian negotiators.
Weakened Position The scandal is seen as weakening Ukraine’s negotiating leverage. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has used the allegations to paint the Ukrainian government as corrupt and unreliable, questioning President Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as leader because wartime elections were not held.
Negotiator Changes Yermak was a central figure in the peace talks. His resignation and replacement by Rustem Umerov has led to concerns, as Umerov is also reportedly implicated in the same investigation.
Peace Plan Concerns U.S. officials held talks with the new Ukrainian delegation in Florida, and Witkoff plans to meet with Putin in Moscow to discuss a peace plan that some sources suggest might be more favorable to Russia’s terms, potentially involving land concessions and military limitations for Ukraine.
Domestic Pressure The scandal puts immense political pressure on Zelenskyy, who must balance the demands of his Western allies for accountability with maintaining national unity and a strong front against Russia.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 2, 2025