Ukraine’s Security Service opens pre-trial investigation into Zelensky’s former associate Mindich
The Security Service of Ukraine opens a pre-trial investigation of high treason into businessman Timur Mindich, a former business associate of the Ukrainian President Zelensky, and his associates, says MP Oleksii Honcharenko quoting the SBU's response to his request.
The SBU says that after the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) published its investigation into the corruption in Ukraine’s energy sector, they sent a request to NABU “to ensure effective interaction and cooperation.”
The SBU also shared with NABU materials from criminal proceedings under the article on sabotage. The SBU investigated the possible supply of substandard materials and equipment to nuclear power facilities. The investigation focuses on 96 completed and planned procurements by the state nuclear company Enerhoatom, carried out between 2022 and 2024 under direct contracts, without the use of transparent electronic systems.
MP Oleksii Honcharenko says that immediately after the corruption investigation had been published, he requested the Security Service of Ukraine to check whether Mindich had access to state secrets and had ties to Russian special services. He also asked if Mindich could influence the decisions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
Who is Mindich?
Businessman Timur Mindich is said to be a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky. He recently became the central figure in the investigation into corruption in the energy sector.
According to the investigation, those involved in the corruption scheme systematically received kickbacks from Enerhoatom's contractors, amounting to 10% to 15% of the contract value. Counterparties had to pay to avoid having payments for services rendered/products supplied blocked or losing their supplier status. The money was legalized through a separate office in Kyiv belonging to the family of former MP and now Russian Senator Andriy Derkach.
The investigation says that Mindich is a co-organiser of the corruption scheme. He allegedly had influence over Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and then-Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. The prosecutor also confirmed that former Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov was involved in the case.
A few hours before NABU law enforcement officers arrived to search Mindich's home, he crossed the state border. NABU head Semen Kryvonos stated that law enforcement officers only found out after the fact that Mindich had left. According to him, Mindich passed through border control quite quickly, in just a few dozen minutes at the Hrushiv checkpoint, although this usually takes much longer.
The State Border Service has already conducted an investigation into Timur Mindich's border crossing and said that he left the country legally, as he’s the father of three children under the age of 18, which gives him the right to travel abroad during martial law.
According to one version, Mindich is currently in Israel — law enforcement officials have not confirmed this, but have assured that they are trying to bring him back.
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