State nuclear energy company Energoatom has not been granted victim status nine months after the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine launched a $100 million corruption investigation known as the Midas case. Pre-trial investigation materials have not yet been submitted to court, according to details disclosed during a joint briefing by anti-corruption authorities.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) revealed the status of the case during a briefing reported by Ukrainian News. NABU Director Semen Kryvonos confirmed that no entity currently holds injured party status in the criminal proceedings, adding that investigators plan to finish pre-trial work within established deadlines before opening files to suspects.
Pre-trial extensions and legal hurdles
Deadlines for the pre-trial investigation have been extended three times, with the most recent extension granted at a late July session conducted outside public view without press releases from NABU or SAP. Lawyer Yuriy Sukhov stated that failing to grant Energoatom victim status indicates prosecutors have not yet proven financial harm with proper evidence. Sukhov warned that preparing for trial without establishing specific damages will create a serious legal obstacle for the prosecution.
During the briefing, Kryvonos refused to comment on audio recordings previously published by media outlets. Kryvonos stated that NABU did not publish the tapes in question and maintains responsibility only for material released on its official resources.
Leaked audio recordings and defense claims
The origin of the leaked recordings remains unconfirmed. Member of Parliament Anna Skorokhod claimed that NABU acted as the source for journalist Mykhailo Tkach, whose reporting made parts of the Midas case tapes public. Skorokhod published photographs on her social media page showing Tkach visiting NABU facilities.
Sukhov argued that the audio leaks were deliberate and served NABU's interests. He noted that prior to NABU's creation, pre-trial investigation materials and covert surveillance files were never published in news outlets. Sukhov added that when prosecutors lack evidence, they turn to the public to build support and offset investigation miscalculations through public pressure on the court.
NABU and SAP first announced the investigation on November 11, 2025, claiming they uncovered a high-level criminal organization operating within Energoatom. Investigators alleged the group influenced company operations, received unlawful benefits, and laundered funds, leading to five detentions and formal notices of suspicion issued to seven individuals.
