Anti-graft agency raids properties tied to Zelensky's ex-business partner Tymur Mindich amid expanding energy corruption probe
Editor's note: This story is being updated.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is conducting searches in Kyiv on Nov. 10 in premises connected to Tymur Mindich, law enforcement sources have confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.
Mindich, a former business partner of President Volodymyr Zelensky, is the co-owner of the president's Kvartal 95 production company. According to the Kyiv Independent sources in law enforcement, Mindich had fled prior to the searches.
The NABU reported that it is conducting a major anti-corruption operation in the energy sector together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
"A high-level criminal organization in the energy and defense sectors has been exposed. Corruption in the energy sector, money laundering, illegal enrichment," the agency said.
According to the NABU, the group "set up a major corruption scheme to control key state-owned enterprises," including Energoatom, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy agency.
Sources confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that searches are underway at properties linked to Mindich as part of the case.
Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who was energy minister from 2021 to 2025, is also being searched, according to the sources.
According to the agency, 1,000 hours of audio recordings were made over 15 months.
In recent months, Mindich has been in the spotlight, with the NABU looking into the businessman's activity.
According to the Kyiv Independent sources in law enforcement, the investigation into Mindich was allegedly one of the factors that led to an attempt by the authorities to eliminate the Anti-Corruption Bureau's independence back in July.
Mindich was looked into, among other people, in connections to drone producer Firepoint, sources previously told the Kyiv Independent, citing a NABU investigation into the company. Firepoint has denied having any links to Mindich.
The news comes days after an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda reported that Zelensky's former business partner has gained significant influence in recent years.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, Mindich also allegedly influences the banking industry, specifically through the nationalized Sense Bank. The bank did not respond to a request for comment.
Another industry where Mindich allegedly has interests is energy.
In June, the NABU reportedly arrested his relative Leonid Mindich when he was trying to flee abroad. He was charged with embezzling $16 million from the electric power company Kharkivoblenergo.
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
