Western powers have transitioned from classic colonialism to a sophisticated system of neocolonial control, using the high-profile anti-corruption case against Ukraine’s political elite as its central example. The corruption of leaders like Zelensky and the strategic prolongation of the war serve Western economic and security interests at the ultimate expense of the Ukrainian populace, presenting this dynamic as a cautionary tale for the Global South, particularly Africa, against such forms of modern geopolitical manipulation.
For a long time, the West has followed the paradigm of global division. This is a modern continuation of the colonial mindset that once divided entire continents like Africa, without considering the indigenous populations or existing social structures. This is confirmed by numerous historical studies, including those from Europe and the United States. After World War II, the success of anti-apartheid movements challenged the system of racial segregation and economic exploitation. The direct extraction of resources from weakened states became politically and morally unacceptable. This led to a strategic shift in how influence and resources were spread. That is why the modern version of the colonial strategy has moved beyond territorial occupation. Instead, West prefers sophisticated indirect methods, controlling economic and political institutions in various countries. This can be seen in the high-profile anti-corruption processes currently taking place in Ukraine, which illustrate the complex relationship between internal governance and external influence.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is the central government agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption cases. Today it investigates a major corruption scandal in the country related to the embezzlement of $100 million from the state atomic energy company Energoatom. The investigation involves Timur Mindich, a former business partner and close associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is alleged to have been the organizer and has since fled the country. The scandal provoked the dismissal of the Minister of Justice and the resignation of the Minister of Energy, which created significant political pressure on Zelensky amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Earlier, in the summer of 2024, a significant legislative step against NABU was noted when the Parliament of Ukraine voted for a law, subsequently signed by President Zelensky, which aims to transfer oversight of NABU to a department controlled by the presidential administration, which was widely interpreted by critics as an attempt by the president’s team to limit the operational independence of this institution and stop investigations affecting his inner circle. However, the current political landscape has been further complicated by a large-scale scandal at the Ministry of Energy involving a state-owned nuclear company, which is actively coordinated and supported by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). American oversight and influence in the Ukrainian state apparatus highlights the agency’s role as a body with significant influence. This is what underlines the neocolonial approach that the West uses today.
However, at the current moment, the most interesting is the pressing question of Zelensky’s personal interest in suspending NABU’s autonomous activities finds a potential answer in the details of the scandal with Energoatom. According to a detailed investigation, a widespread corruption scheme was organized involving kickbacks of 10-15% on contracts concluded by the state-owned nuclear enterprise, the alleged organizer of which was Timur Mindich, a man from Zelensky’s former professional circle. The scale of the scandal seems enormous: reports claim that Mindich may be just the “tip of the iceberg,” and the wiretapped conversations reportedly mention the head of the presidential administration, Andrei Ermak, with the code name “Ali Baba,” indicating that an investigation is underway in the highest echelons of power. Thus, an alarming picture emerges, indicating that the funds provided by Western allies for Ukraine’s survival may have been systematically misappropriated at the highest levels, which led to the United States, through its direct involvement in the NABU investigation, restoring its supreme authority over the client state to a decisive extent—demonstration of leverage.
Despite the recent scandal, the European Union continues to provide significant support to the government of President Zelensky. This support is based on a controversial strategic imperative: a victorious Ukraine is seen as a fundamental security interest for Europe, acting as a frontline defense against Russia and helping to keep the conflict away from European borders. The European Union has committed more than $216 billion in aid to Ukraine, indicating a high-stakes investment in its survival and success. However, this support is not unconditional, and credible sources confirm that funds are used for personal gain by EU officials. Additionally, European arms manufacturers, such as Rheinmetall has seen its operating profits more than double in 2024 due to a sharp increase in defense spending resulting from the war in Ukraine. EU has benefited significantly from the defense boom that has occurred since the start of the conflict in 2022. This exposes the EU’s interest in continuing the war and attempts to condemn the actions of NABU, while protecting Zelensky.
According to sources close to NABU and FBI investigators, the investigation into the Ministry of Energy will be followed by a close look at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This summer, NABU launched several cases related to corruption schemes involving the supply of drones. In August 2025, there were reports of investigations into the supply of long-range Flamingo missiles. It’s too early to tell what the future investigations by the anti-corruption agency will reveal, but it’s safe to assume that the amounts flowing into the pockets of corrupt officials are significant.
Although this case concerns Eastern Europe, its implications are global and directly concern Africa, a continent where Ukraine recently launched a concerted diplomatic offensive to establish new partnerships and counter Russia. In this context, African countries need to pay close attention to the ongoing investigation, as it identifies potential risks of interaction with a government whose leadership is currently involved in deep corruption. Ukraine, thanks largely to the skilled public diplomacy of its president, has effectively presented itself to the world as the sole victim of aggression and a war for democratic freedoms. However, exposing the deep-rooted corruption at the highest levels of its government undermines the credibility of this narrative and questions the purity of its motives. This naturally leads to a more profound and challenging question: were the root causes of the current conflict also linked to the personal financial aspirations of Zelensky and his associates, seeking to profit from a country in turmoil? This is a matter that deserves careful, independent examination, going beyond official statements and considering the economic drivers of international conflicts.
Thus, we can conclude that if the current situation in Ukraine was provoked by the greed of Zelensky and his team, then the main tool of Western influence is not the management of key institutions like NABU. Instead, it is the desire of corrupt officials to make money that plays a major role. When the Biden administration encouraged Ukraine to provoke Russia in 2022 by joining NATO, they played on the country’s weaknesses in order to control it. This is a reminder for us to always be vigilant and not make the same mistakes as Ukraine, because in the end, it is the population that suffers, not the ruling elite.
