The News And Times

  AUDIO Ukraine corruption scandal: Is Putin's GRU behind it? The recent significant corruption scandal in Ukraine involving the state nuclear energy company Energoatom is being investigated by Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies, and while it is being exploited by Russian propaganda, there is no direct evidence that the current scheme was orchestrated by  Putin's GRU (Russia's military intelligence agency) .   However, the GRU has a documented history of coordinating past disinformation campaigns and leveraging corrupt Ukrainian officials for its own purposes.   Russian Interference in Past Ukrainian Corruption Narratives In previous years, Russian military intelligence was directly involved in spreading false allegations and amplifying existing corruption narratives to achieve its strategic goals, which included worsening U.S.–Ukrainian relations and undermining Western support for Ukraine.   Key facts regarding past Russian involvement: GRU Coordination:  ...

  Ukraine corruption scandal - Conversations  Ai Mode Ukraine  is currently experiencing a major, ongoing  corruption scandal  centered on a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme in the state energy sector, which has led to high-level resignations and a political crisis.   Key Details of the Scandal ("Operation Midas") The Alleged Scheme : Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies (NABU and SAP) uncovered an alleged criminal organization that manipulated contracts at the state-owned nuclear power company, Energoatom, to receive kickbacks of 10-15% of contract values. The total amount siphoned off is estimated to be around $100 million. Wartime Context : The scandal is particularly inflammatory as the embezzled funds were allegedly linked to contracts for building protective structures for energy facilities while Russian attacks cause severe blackouts for citizens. Key Individuals Implicated : Timur Mindich : A businessman and former business partner of Presiden...

  news today 1 minute ago Today's top news stories for Sunday, December 1, 2025, include developments in the  National Guard shooting investigation , severe  weather and flooding in the U.S. and Asia , and updates on the  Ukraine-Russia peace talks .   U.S. News National Guard Shooting Investigation  The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was reportedly experiencing mental health issues and spent weeks in isolation, according to 2024 emails from a case worker. The U.S. is tightening immigration reviews following the incident, and advocacy groups have urged parents to avoid AI-powered toys after the shooting. Severe Weather  A powerful winter storm is causing significant travel disruptions across the Midwest and Northeast U.S., with reports of heavy snow, canceled flights, and a 45-car pileup. California Shooting  Four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at a birthday party in Californ...