Zelenskyy ally arrested trying to flee Ukraine as massive corruption probe deepens

Ukrainian authorities detained former energy minister Herman Halushchenko in the Operation Midas probe investigating alleged $100 million kickbacks. Ukraine Zelenskyy ally arrested trying to flee Ukraine as massive corruption probe deepens Ukrainian president's loss of control over Operation Midas infuriates him, source tells Fox News Digital By Emma Bussey Fox News Published February 15, 2026 4:49pm EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video There's 'tremendous hatred' between Zelenskyy and Putin, Trump says President Donald Trump addresses the current standpoint of the Russian-Ukraine conflict. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Ukraine’s former energy minister was detained Sunday after authorities removed him from a train at the border as he allegedly attempted to flee the country, a source has confirmed to Fox News Digital. Herman Halushchenko's arrest, the source said, followed requests from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and marked an uptick in an anti-corruption probe engulfing the political spectrum."Halushchenko tried to escape Ukraine," the source said under the condition of anonymity. "The border guards had a request from NABU and SAPO about him and also to get information in case he tried to cross the border," they added. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STAYS SILENT AS MASSIVE UKRAINE CORRUPTION SCANDAL ROCKS ZELENSKYY'S INNER CIRCLE Ukrainian authorities detained former energy minister Herman Halushchenko in the Operation Midas probe investigating alleged $100 million kickbacks at Energoatom nuclear company. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters) "This essentially means that because he tried to cross, the president has lost some control here."NABU released a statement on the matter Sunday but did not name Halushchenko, according to the Kyiv Post. He had served as the country’s energy minister under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but resigned in November."Today, while crossing the state border, NABU detectives have detained the former Minister of Energy as part of the ‘Midas’ case," the agency said in a statement, referring to a corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector. "Initial investigative proceedings are ongoing, carried out in accordance with the requirements of the law and court sanctions. Details to follow," NABU added. ‘GOLDEN TOILET’ SCANDAL: ZELENSKYY FACES DEEPEST CRISIS YET AS ALLIES ACCUSED IN $100M WARTIME SCHEME Halushchenko had served under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Sergei Grits/AP Photo)Operation Midas centers on allegations of a $100 million embezzlement scheme within Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company.Investigators say funds meant for critical energy infrastructure, including wartime grid repairs after Russian attacks were siphoned off through contract kickbacks. Halushchenko was one of several ministers who resigned in 2025 as NABU uncovered what it described as the massive money-laundering scheme orchestrated by Tymur Mindich, also an ally of Zelenskyy.The controversy has also affected border operations. Border head Serhiy Deineko was dismissed in January, the Kyiv Independent reported.On Jan. 4, Valerii Vavryniuk, the agency’s first deputy, was appointed acting head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS), according to to Pravda. "The last border head had also been accused of corruption," the source said. "There is a new acting head of the border service who is not loyal to Zelenskyy but more so to the institutions," they added. FORMER UKRAINIAN PM ACCUSED OF BRIBING POLITICIANS WITH US DOLLARS TO WEAKEN ZELENSKYY'S GOVERNMENT "With the corruption probes, Zelenskyy loses control and this infuriates him," a source told Fox News Digital. (Pavlo Bahmut/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)The source also said since Halushchenko was considered an "unofficial but direct subordinate" of Zelenskyy, this latest arrest will prove difficult for Ukraine's leader. "Halushenko had been [an] (unofficial but direct) subordinate to Zelenskyy, so if his corruption is proven then it will be hard to convince people the president knew nothing," they said."With the corruption probes, Zelenskyy loses control and this infuriates him," the source added. The developments come as Zelenskyy continues to navigate Ukraine’s war with Russia. TOP UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS IN ZELENSKYY GOVERNMENT SUBMIT RESIGNATIONS AMID $100 MILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL Ukrainian servicemen ride atop by an APC towards frontline positions near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on May 1, 2023. (Libkos/AP Photo)The source described high emotion inside the Ukraine parliament with Zelenskyy's "stress rising" in the wake of Halushenko's arrest. "Recently Zelenskyy became angry over initiatives in parliament that were not pushed through, and he shouted and threatened parliamentarians," the source said. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP"This week he appeared quite emotionally uncontrollable and almost aggressive behind the camera, so some parliamentarians have seen his stress rise many times rece