The European Commission defended ongoing anti-corruption probes in Ukraine’s energy sector, with spokesperson Guillaume Mercier highlighting the work of independent bodies like NABU as proof that Kyiv’s institutions are functioning during wartime. While the EU Commission insists that fighting graft remains a core condition for Ukraine’s EU membership bid, senior officials and MEPs acknowledge the scale of corruption is deeply damaging, with public outrage fueled by revelations of government-linked profiteering amid ongoing Russian attacks and power outages. Von der Leyen and her team reiterated the need to safeguard Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies as the scandal continues to roil Kyiv and Brussels.