The Ukrainian authorities in charge of combating corruption in the country have charged this Tuesday seven people related to an alleged bribery scheme valued at more than $100 million and related to a particularly sensitive sector in times of war: energy.
In the statement sent by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) it is reported that there are five suspects detained and two others who are still being sought. Although NABU has not offered specific names, a source close to the investigation has told Reuters that the mastermind of the plot – which would have revolved around a series of acquisitions in state companies – is Timur Mindich. An old business partner of his own Volodímir Zelenski.
He Kyiv Independentfor its part, has reported – citing sources from the investigation – that Mindich would be one of the two suspects who have not yet been found. Apparently, someone informed him of the situation hours before the searches that took place this Monday and the businessman chose not to stay to offer explanations.
It should be remembered, at this point, that NABU was one of the two anti-corruption agencies that Zelensky put in his sights a few months ago. When he tried to eliminate their independence and autonomy. Your freedom of movement, in short. The Ukrainian president ended up backing down from the pressure exerted both from the streets of the country – the Ukrainian population demonstrated for days – and from Brussels.
Who exactly is Timur Mindich?
Born almost half a century ago in the central city of Dnipro, Mindich is a film producer and former associate of a particularly powerful Israeli-Ukrainian oligarch named Ihor Kolomoisky.
The fact is that Mindich is also an old friend of Zelensky. What’s more: they shared ownership of the audiovisual production company Kvartal 95 – through which the country’s current leader achieved international fame as an actor – until Zelensky gave up his participation after winning the 2019 elections.
Likewise, and according to Radio Free EuropeMindich is co-owner of Green Family, a Cypriot company that co-founded film production companies in Russia, and the person who gave Zelensky an armored car when he became president.
Furthermore, during Zelensky’s first twelve months as the country’s leader, the President’s Office received at least three visits from Mindich. He then declared that on all occasions he had met with Zelensky’s chief of staff: Andriy Yermak. A “shadow figure who concentrates a lot of power”, as a Brussels official declared to EL ESPAÑOL at the time, and who focused the protests of Ukrainians when the anti-corruption agencies were targeted.
According to the journalistic investigation project Schemesa year later, in 2021, Zelensky himself celebrated his birthday at Mindich’s residence and a few months later it was Mindich who attended a birthday party organized by Yermak.
Beyond the personal friendship that seems to have continued to prevail – until recently at least – between the president and his former partner, local Ukrainian media point out that Mindich also proposed names to fill offices depending on which office.
It was he who recommended, for example, the appointment of the former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. A figure who fell from grace in June 2025 after being accused by the other Ukrainian anti-corruption agency – the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office or SAPO – of bribery and abuse of power.
Finally, and according to sources consulted by Ukrainska PravdaMindich’s current protégés include the Minister of Justice, Herman Halushchenko; the Minister of Energy, Svitlana Hrinchuk; and the interim Minister of Agriculture, Vitaliy Koval.
Broken promises?
Zelensky became president of Ukraine six years ago after a very productive career in the entertainment industry with the promise of eradicating the quasi-structural corruption that permeated local elites since the country’s independence.
However, since he assumed power, every so often a scandal has arisen related to influence peddling, illegitimate enrichment by exploiting public resources, abuse of power or bribery.
It is a problem that also transcends national borders. And Ukraine is under international pressure to combat corruption if it wants to join the European Union at some point and continue receiving financial support to defend itself from the Russian invasion.
Those responsible for NABU, by the way, have explained that the investigation that uncovered this alleged plot has lasted 15 months. In recent days the operations conducted by its agents in this regard exceed 70… and a few more are still expected.