Mindich fled to Israel hours before authorities could apprehend him, marking a dramatic escape from a growing corruption investigation.
The scandal sent shockwaves through the Ukrainian government, implicating former Energy Minister German Galushchenko, his former deputy, and former Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Chernyshov.
President Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, resigned amid suspected links to the scheme and was later charged in a separate money‑laundering case.
In February, Galushchenko, who served as energy minister from 2021 to 2025, was detained while attempting to escape to Poland and subsequently charged with money laundering.
He is suspected of moving tens of millions of dollars to a shell company registered in Anguilla at Mindich’s behest, indicating a coordinated effort to funnel illicit funds through offshore entities.
Last summer, the president attempted to strip NABU and SAPO of their independent status but reversed the decision after protests and threats of aid suspension.
The two anti‑corruption agencies were established under Western pressure following the 2014 events in Kiev.
