Mindich ‘influenced’ Halushchenko and Umerov, prosecution says
Tymur Mindich (left) (Photo: Skhemy)
Tymur Mindich, a businessman and longtime associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, exerted undue influence over then-energy and defense ministers (Herman Halushchenko and Rustem Umerov, respectively), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) asserted in court on Nov. 11.
The Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC) reported the prosecution’s claims. Earlier the same day, Umerov, currently the head of National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), said he traveled to Istanbul to negotiate further to prisoner exchanges with Russia.
According to investigators, Mindich and his associates used pseudonyms and encrypted communications. Mindich was referred to as “Carlson,” and his partner Mykhailo Tsukerman was called “Chief.” Officials allegedly receiving money-laundering services also had code names: Halushchenko was “Sigismund” or “Professor,” while former Minister of National Unity Oleksii Chernyshov was known as “Che Guevara.” Chernyshov has also been named a suspect in the probe.
At a hearing of the High Anti-Corruption Court, prosecutors said Mindich built his influence on Halushchenko through personal ties to the president.
“With Halushchenko’s assistance, Mindich controlled financial flows in Ukraine’s gas and energy sectors,” the prosecutor said, adding that Halushchenko benefited personally by intervening with the president and using Mindich-organized money-laundering services through the minister’s adviser, Myroniuk.
Prosecutors also asserted that Mindich influenced Umerov when he served as defense minister between September 2023 and July 2025.
On Nov. 10, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO said they were carrying out a large-scale operation targeting corruption in the energy sector and conducted a series of high-profile searches. Media reports said NABU agents searched properties linked to Mindich. The businessman reportedly left Ukraine hours before the searches.
President Zelenskyy responded to the allegations, saying transparency at Energoatom (Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator) is a priority and vowing that all those involved in corrupt schemes will be held accountable.
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