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.”

Eleven Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Sunday morning, according to local civil defence and health officials, underscoring the fragility of an already strained ceasefire.

The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes targeted militant positions in response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hamas. It stated that fighters were killed after emerging from a tunnel into an area of the strip under Israeli military control.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a strike on a tent encampment in northern Gaza killed at least six people, while another attack in the south left five dead.

Since the ceasefire came into force on 10 October, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of near-daily breaches. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says at least 600 people have been killed during this period.

Earlier this month, local officials reported that at least 32 people died in a broader wave of Israeli air strikes across the territory.

The latest escalation comes as preparations continue for the second phase of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Last month, US President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new body, the Board of Peace, which has been granted a mandate from the United Nations Security Council to establish an international force. The mission is intended to secure border areas in Gaza and oversee the disarmament of Hamas.

The board, scheduled to hold its first meeting in Washington on 19 February, is also tasked with supervising the formation of a technocratic Palestinian government and coordinating post-war reconstruction efforts.

As part of the next phase of the ceasefire plan, Indonesia — a member of the Board of Peace — has announced plans to deploy 8,000 troops to Gaza.

The conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has since resulted in more than 71,820 deaths, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Washington last week for talks with Trump, with discussions focusing in part on efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme — which Tehran maintains is solely for civilian use.

Netanyahu was expected to urge the US administration to pursue an agreement aimed at halting Iran’s uranium enrichment and limiting its ballistic missile capabilities, as broader regional security concerns continue to shape diplomatic efforts alongside the ceasefire process.