Zelenskyy ally arrested trying to flee Ukraine as massive corruption probe deepens
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.
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“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.
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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.”
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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.
“Halushchenko 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.
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The source described high emotion inside the Ukraine parliament with Zelenskyy’s “stress rising” in the wake of Herman Halushchenko’s arrest.
“Recently Zelenskyy became angry over initiatives in parliament that were not pushed through, and he shouted and threatened parliamentarians,” the source said.
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“This week he appeared quite emotionally uncontrollable and almost aggressive behind the camera, so some parliamentarians have seen his stress rise many times recently – and more than pre-war levels,” they said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Zelenskyy’s office for comment.
Iranian American comedian Max Amini sheds light on ‘unimaginable’ oppression in Iran ahead of historic show
As Max Amini prepares to become the first Iranian American comedian to headline Madison Square Garden on Sunday, he spoke with Fox News Digital about what he described as the “unimaginable” oppression facing the Iranian people under the Islamic Republic’s regime.
Born in Tucson, Arizona, in 1981 to a Persian family, Amini has always felt a deep connection to the country his parents grew up in and to the culture in which he was raised.
“I was born into this family who… promoted the Iranian culture in a very positive way to us,” he told Fox News Digital. “So I learned all the best things about my culture. And I was very lucky to be raised in America — in an environment that was very patriotic.”
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Iran’s citizens have taken to the streets in mass protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime in recent weeks, with reports claiming thousands of people have been killed as the regime cracks down on the protests. The protests come as the nation faces unrest over economic grievances and political repression.
As arguably the most popular Iranian American comedian in the world, Amini has taken it upon himself to advocate against the horrors facing the people of Iran, and to “promote the idea [of] how important it is to respect human rights.”
“Freedom is something that today we understand is the most important thing for any human. If you can imagine how hard it is to be in any country as someone who lives in this beautiful country, can you imagine that they strip away all your rights?” he questioned.
“You’re afraid of what you’re saying. You can’t do simple things in life – singing, dancing. You know, basic, basic things that we take for granted. Women cannot sing or dance in public. They cannot go out with their significant other freely and people cannot exercise their beliefs, certain religions,” Amini continued. “It’s very unimaginable for people who live in a free country, like the U.S. or European countries, that have so much respect for human rights.”
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The comedian argued that there’s nothing “Islamic” or anything resembling a “Republic” in Iran under the Islamic Republic’s leadership, and that “Iranian people are very different” from the government that rules over them.
“They’re a terrorist group, they’re a mafia, and they’re absolutely brutal. They’re killing their own people,” he said of the Iranian government.
Amini described the Iranian people as vibrant and modern, despite how they are sometimes portrayed by the media.
“They’re fun, they’re hip, they’re fashion forward. When you understand just their taste of music and the way they enjoy their gatherings and how they live, you’ll be surprised [by] what the media shows and what the reality is,” he told Fox News Digital. “So I hope everybody gets a chance to see that soon.”
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Amini described the solution to the situation unfolding in Iran as a “rescue mission,” and said, “We need to go in that country and rescue the kidnapped people by a terrorist regime.”
“The number [of protesters killed] is massive and for a human to be living in a country where if they go out, they’re guaranteed to be murdered, foreign countries should take this seriously,” he contended.
“Historically, when a country is held in this situation, they are held hostage. There is a regime that is absolutely brutal and they are killing their own people. The intervention is a must. And the rescue mission is the most beautiful act a country can do for these people,” Amini continued. “They’re screaming. They’re screaming out for help.”
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Although those living outside Iran may feel that what’s happening hundreds or thousands of miles away has no impact on their lives, Amini argued that history suggests otherwise.
“We think the other side of the world is not going to affect us, but now if you look at the history of just the last 20–30 years, as Americans, we’ve been so affected by some of the most corrupt things [that are] happening on the other side of the world,” he maintained. “I hope soon we reach much better connections with humanity.”
Rubio meets with Zelenskyy ahead of crucial Geneva talks, says Trump wants solution that ‘ends bloodshed’
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, saying that President Donald Trump “wants a solution that ends the bloodshed once and for all.”
“Met with Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa on Ukraine’s security and deepening defense and economic partnerships,” Rubio wrote in an X post in which he shared a photo of him shaking hands with the Ukrainian leader. “President Trump wants a solution that ends the bloodshed once and for all.”
Earlier Saturday, Zelenskyy revealed he had spoken with Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of talks in Geneva, which he said his government expected to be “truly productive.”
“I had a conversation with envoys of President Trump @stevewitkoff and @JaredKushner, ahead of the trilateral meetings in Geneva,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “We count on the meetings being truly productive.”
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Zelenskyy said they also discussed “some developments following the meetings in Abu Dhabi, which were held at the end of last month and the beginning of this month.
“Not everything can be shared over the phone, and our negotiating team will present Ukraine’s position next week,” the Ukrainian president added.
After the Abu Dhabi talks, Zelenskyy told reporters the U.S. had set a June deadline for Moscow and Kyiv to strike a peace agreement.
“The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule,” Zelenskyy said at the time, according to The Associated Press.
Zelenskyy added at the time that if the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration would likely put pressure on Moscow and Kyiv to meet.
On Saturday, he also thanked the U.S. for its “constructive approach” to ending the war.
“We greatly appreciate that America consistently maintains a constructive approach and is ready to assist in protecting lives,” Zelenskyy wrote. “I thank President Trump, his team, and the people of the United States for their support.”
Rubio on Saturday also said he had discussed peace between Ukraine and Russia at the Munich Security Conference with his G7 counterparts.
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“Met with my @G7 counterparts in Munich to advance @POTUS’s vision of pursuing peace through strength,” Rubio wrote. “We discussed ongoing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, promote stability in Venezuela, and address global threats to achieve international peace and prosperity.”
The talks between the U.S., Russia and Ukraine are expected to start Tuesday in Geneva.
Global protests call for Iran regime change in major cities worldwide after bloody crackdown
Anti-Iran regime protesters gathered in major cities across the globe Saturday calling for a leadership change in a Global Day of Action Rally.
Over 250,000 protesters rallied in Munich, Germany, Saturday with the Munich Security Conference as a backdrop.
“With the number of participants recorded, this gathering is one of the largest rallies held in Munich in recent years,” the Munich Police reported in a press release. “The peaceful atmosphere is particularly noteworthy, despite the high number of participants in the meeting.”
IRAN REGIME REPORTEDLY ISSUED NATIONWIDE SHOOT-TO-KILL ORDERS AS PROTEST DEATH TOLL SURGES
Crowds reportedly chanted “change, change, regime change” and “democracy for Iran” with green, white and red flags with lion and sun emblems waving in the air with a few “Make Iran Great Again” red hats spotted.
Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was among the hundreds of thousands protesting, telling Reuters a possible attack on Iran will either weaken the regime or accelerate its fall.
“It’s a matter of time. We are hoping that this attack will expedite the process, and the people can be finally back in the streets and take it all the way to the ultimate regime’s downfall,” said Pahlavi.
He said he hopes President Trump will have the United States intervene and “have the people’s back.”
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On Friday, President Trump said regime change in Iran would be the “best thing” to happen while speaking to troops at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
“People are hoping that, at some point, the decision will be made that there’s no use, there’s no point, we’re not going to get anywhere with negotiations,” said Pahlavi. “Intervention is a way to save lives.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was present in Munich for the security conference and echoed a similar sentiment in a sideline interview Friday.
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“There’s no negotiating with these people in my view. They’re hell-bent on enacting an agenda based on religion that teaches them to lie, teaches them to destroy in the name of God,” said Graham.
He shared that the regime is the weakest it has been since 1979, adding, “It is a regime with American blood on its hand.” And he called on protesters to “keep protesting.”
The senator also took the stage at the Global Day of Action, speaking to the crowd and holding up a black “Make Iran Great Again” hat.
Large demonstrations were also held in Toronto, Melbourne, Athens, Tokyo, London and Los Angeles.
An estimated 350,000 people marched on the streets of Toronto, the city’s police spokesperson, Laura Brabant, told The Associated Press.
Iranian American activist and Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Sheila Nazarian told Fox News Digital the protests across the globe represent a universal truth.
“When regimes silence their people, the people eventually find their voice. Whether in the streets of Tehran or in diaspora communities around the world,” she said.
Nazarian left Iran when she was 6 years old along with her family.
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“As someone who came to this country from Iran, I know firsthand that these protests are not about politics. They’re about basic human dignity, women’s rights and the fundamental freedom to live without fear,” she added.