German Galushchenko

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Valeriiovych and the family name is Galushchenko.

German Valeriiovych Galushchenko, also Herman Valeriiovych Halushchenko (Ukrainian: Герман Валерійович Галущенко; born 1 May 1973), is a Ukrainian lawyer currently serving as Minister of Justice of Ukraine since 17 July 2025.^[1] He previously served as the Minister of Energy of Ukraine from 29 April 2021 to 17 July 2025 in the government of Denys Shmyhal. He is also a member of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine since 13 May 2021.^[2]

German Galushchenko
Герман Галущенко
Galushchenko in 2024
Minister of Justice
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 July 2025
President	Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Prime Minister	Yulia Svyrydenko
Preceded by	Olha Stefanishyna
Minister of Energy
In office 29 April 2021 – 17 July 2025 Acting: 16–17 July 2025
President	Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Prime Minister	Denys Shmyhal
Preceded by	Yuriy Vitrenko (acting)
Succeeded by	Svitlana Hrynchuk
Personal details
Born	(1973-05-01) 1 May 1973 (age 52) Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Patriot (?–2020)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Lviv

He has been outspoken regarding Ukraine's energy situation^[3] and the IAEA's role in the protection of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine.^[4][5]

Until the end of August 2020, he was a member of the governing bodies of the Patriot party, which defines itself as a center-right political force. In the 2019 presidential election, the party nominated economist Andriy Novak as its candidate, who received 0.02% of the vote.^[6]

Career

Ministerial role

On April 29, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to appoint Herman Halushchenko as the Minister of Energy of Ukraine. This decision was supported by 305 MPs - the Servant of the People faction, OPZZh, Batkivshchyna, and the For the Future and Dovira groups.^[7]

On May 13, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Herman Halushchenko to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine by a decree.^[8]

Teaching activity

Since 2012, he has been teaching private international law at the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Associate Professor of Private International Law at the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.^[9]

Corruption

Being as minister, Galushchenko has been accused of non-transparent personnel appointments, corruption, and increasing influence over energy.^{[10][11][12][13]}

On August 12, 2024, NABU officers exposed Galushchenko's deputy, Oleksandr Heilo, in receiving a bribe of 500 thousand US dollars for granting permission to export mining equipment from the frontline area.^[14][15][16]