Ukrainian Energy Minister Hrynchuk resigns

Ukraine's Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk announced on Wednesday that she had resigned following a wide-ranging anti-corruption investigation into the energy sector. In a statement on Facebook, she denied any wrongdoing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier called for the dismissal of the energy minister as well as the justice minister over corruption allegations.

In his speech, he stressed that at a time when Ukraine is facing a serious situation, it is unacceptable that fraud in strategic sectors should persist. He called for maximum transparency and supported the work of the anti-corruption authorities who are conducting the investigations.

Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko had earlier responded on Facebook that he saw the suspension as a reasonable step and planned to defend himself, but did not disclose the specific circumstances of the case.

(reuters, swag)