Ukrainian authorities have taken decisive action in their ongoing anti-corruption efforts after a former energy minister was detained while attempting to leave the country.

Investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine confirmed on Sunday that the former minister was intercepted while crossing the state border as part of the sweeping “Midas” investigation into alleged financial misconduct in the energy sector.

Although officials did not formally name him, prominent Ukrainian media identified the detainee as German Galushchenko, who left government last November following allegations tied to a reported $100m (£75m) embezzlement scheme.

The case represents a significant step in Ukraine’s commitment to transparency under President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose administration rose to power pledging to confront corruption even amid the pressures of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The investigation has also touched senior figures, including former chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak, who resigned after his residence was searched. Importantly, neither Zelensky nor Yermak has been accused of wrongdoing.

Authorities say the Midas operation follows 15 months of detailed work by anti-corruption bodies, including cooperation with the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. The probe focuses on suspected irregularities involving Ukraine’s state nuclear operator Energoatom.

Investigators allege that individuals linked to the scheme may have received kickbacks ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values from contractors. According to officials, funds were then laundered and transferred abroad.

Reports from Radio Free Europe indicate that the former minister is being transported to Kyiv for further questioning after border authorities were instructed to notify investigators if he attempted to depart the country.

The probe has already resulted in arrests, including former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov on suspicion of illicit enrichment. Meanwhile, businessman Timur Mindich — associated with Zelensky’s former television production company Kvartal 95 — reportedly left Ukraine after being named as a suspect.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the developments signal continued institutional resolve to safeguard public resources — particularly vital as Ukraine works to maintain energy resilience during sustained attacks on infrastructure.

Cuba has postponed its annual cigar festival in Havana, citing a worsening fuel shortage that officials say has been intensified by US restrictions on oil supplies to the island.

The organising committee of the Festival del Habano announced on Saturday that this year’s event — originally scheduled to take place over five days in late February — would be postponed until further notice.

In a statement, organisers said the decision was driven by the “complex economic situation” facing the country, which they linked to the long-standing US economic, commercial and financial embargo.

The fuel shortage has triggered widespread power cuts across the Caribbean nation, affecting homes, infrastructure and essential services. The situation has been further strained by US actions targeting oil shipments from Venezuela, one of Cuba’s closest allies and a key energy supplier.

In addition to electricity disruptions, Cuba is also experiencing a shortage of aviation fuel. Several airlines have suspended services to the island, while some governments, including the UK, have issued warnings against non-essential travel.

The Habano Festival is one of Cuba’s most prominent international events, attracting more than 1,300 visitors from around 70 countries each year. Attendees typically take part in cigar tastings and tours of tobacco plantations and factories, showcasing what are widely considered some of the world’s finest cigars.

Cuban cigars remain illegal in the United States due to longstanding trade restrictions.

With international tourism already limited by the embargo, organisers said they would wait until conditions improve before setting a new date for the festival.

“The priority of the Habano Festival is to offer its participants a comprehensive experience at the height of the relevance and prestige that this event represents internationally,” the organising committee said.

“The postponement of this celebration is a measure aimed at protecting this experience.”

Cuba’s energy situation has deteriorated in recent weeks, with reports of power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day in some areas, affecting hospital emergency wards, dialysis services and water pumping systems.

US President Donald Trump has urged Cuban leaders to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, while UN human rights experts have criticised Washington’s restrictions on Cuba’s oil imports as an “extreme form of unilateral economic coercion.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the world is entering a defining new phase in global politics, as he arrived in Europe to lead the American delegation at the Munich Security Conference.

Speaking before delivering a major address at the gathering, Rubio described the moment as a turning point for international relations, saying shifting alliances and rising tensions were forcing nations to rethink their roles on the global stage.

“The world is changing very fast right in front of us,” he told reporters. “We live in a new era in geopolitics, and it’s going to require all of us to sort of re-examine what that looks like and what our role is going to be.”

The conference marks the first major global forum since President Donald Trump renewed calls for the US to annex Greenland — a move widely viewed in Europe as a direct challenge to Danish sovereignty and a strain on long-standing alliances.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to prepare for greater strategic independence from Washington, while Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasised that transatlantic ties remain strong and essential despite growing tensions.

This year’s conference, which opened on Friday, is expected to focus heavily on the war in Ukraine, strategic rivalry with China and the prospect of a new nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used his opening remarks to call for renewed cooperation between Europe and the US, appealing for both sides to “repair and revive transatlantic trust together”.

Merz also disclosed that confidential discussions were under way with Macron on the possibility of a joint European nuclear deterrent — a significant step for a continent where only France and the UK possess nuclear weapons, while many others traditionally rely on the US nuclear umbrella within Nato.

Around 50 world leaders are attending the conference, where the future of European defence and the transatlantic partnership is under close scrutiny amid questions about Washington’s long-term commitment to the alliance.

Tensions have been further heightened by Trump’s repeated assertions that Greenland is vital to US national security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed she plans to meet Rubio to address the issue directly, as European leaders increasingly see the dispute as a watershed moment in relations with the United States.

In the lead-up to the summit, eight former US ambassadors to Nato and eight former American supreme commanders in Europe issued an open letter urging Washington to sustain its support for the alliance. They argued that Nato is “far from being a charity”, describing it instead as a strategic force multiplier that enhances US influence in ways that would otherwise be difficult or costly to achieve.