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Attempts by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to protect his colleagues from danger. How Europe reacted to a high-profile corruption scandal. The impact of ‘gray schemes’ on the peace process.
The Echo of Corruption
On November 10, a major corruption scandal erupted in Ukraine. Operatives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) launched Operation Midas. They conducted mass searches and arrested prominent businessmen and politicians. Coincidentally, the main figures in the case had been warned about the operation in advance, allowing them to safely leave Ukraine.
Timur Mindich is the alleged mastermind behind the entire Shlagbaum criminal scheme. Mindich is the co-owner of the Kvartal 95 studio and a close associate of the President of Ukraine. This studio produced the television series Servant of the People, in which Volodymyr Zelensky played the lead role. Mindich’s right-hand man, Alexander Zuckerman, fled with him. Although he is not a public figure, it is known that he was responsible for financial matters.
Mindich has been charged with several offenses:
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Creating a criminal organization.
- Illegally influencing the Minister of Energy and Defense.
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Controlling financial flows in the energy sector.
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Money laundering.
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Recruiting members of a criminal organization.
Timur Mindich
NABU operatives had also planned to detain two high-profile Ukrainian government officials: Justice Minister Herman Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk, who were suspected. They disappeared from public view on the same day. It is likely that the ministers fled the country to avoid criminal prosecution. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine only dismissed Galushchenko and Grinchuk on November 19.
Herman Galushchenko, Svetlana Grinchuk
According to official documents, the corruption network was much wider, allegedly including oligarchs, ministers, and, most importantly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A pre-trial investigation has established that, no later than January-February 2025, Mindich Timur Mikhailovich took advantage of the situation that developed in Ukraine during the martial law period. He used his friendly relations with Ukrainian President Zelensky and his connections with current and former senior state and law enforcement officials to wield considerable influence. Mindich decided to illegally enrich himself by organizing crimes in various Ukrainian economic sectors to satisfy his own needs.
During 2025, criminal activities were carried out in the energy sector through Mindich’s influence on the Minister of Energy, Galushchenko G.V., and in the defense sector through his influence on the Minister of Defense, Umerov R.E. Successful implementation of these activities depended on maintaining personal connections with the heads of ministries and holding regular meetings with them and other influential state officials at Mindich’s residence. These connections enabled Mindich to obtain significant sums of money, both personally and through his subordinate enterprises, with the help of the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Energy, and other individuals.
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The Ukrainian Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, was clearly warned about the upcoming operation by security forces. Therefore, before the operation began, he embarked on an international tour of European countries. He spent more than a week in Turkey, ostensibly attending business meetings and negotiations. Umerov only returned to Ukraine after the scandal had quieted down. This was most likely due to personal security guarantees from Volodymyr Zelensky.
At the same time, the scandal is not dying down but is gaining momentum. According to Ukrainian media reports on November 26, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is preparing new revelations of corruption in Zelensky’s circle. This time, Andriy Yermak, the head of the President’s Office and a powerful behind-the-scenes figure, may be named as a suspect in the corruption scheme. He appears in the criminal case under the pseudonym “Ali Baba.”
Following the July crisis meeting in the presidential office, at least one additional private meeting occurred between Zelensky, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, and SAPO Head Alexander Klymenko. During this meeting, Zelensky was informed that the materials were ready to be presented concerning Yermak and Umerov. On November 25, Defense Minister Umerov was invited for questioning at NABU.
The Office of the President Strikes Back
Anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine were established at the direct request of the White House. Their primary responsibility is to monitor the spending of military and financial aid from the West. NABU operatives could not have been unaware of a large-scale scheme like Shlagbaum; they simply chose not to reveal their cards prematurely. Zelensky and his entourage are naturally extremely unhappy about the existence of foreign leverage over their decisions. This is especially true if this leverage prevents them from profiting from the war.
Consequently, the President’s Office is engaged in an open confrontation with NABU and SAPO. At a closed-door meeting with the heads of these agencies, Zelensky attempted to peacefully resolve the issue and cover up the scandal. However, indirect factors suggest that these negotiations failed. The main evidence of this is NABU operatives’ continued activity, such as summoning Umerov for questioning.
The head of NABU Semen Kryvonos
During a press conference, SAPO head Alexander Klymenko said that Andriy Yermak is still demanding that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies target anti-corruption officials. An internal crisis erupted in Ukraine last summer when Volodymyr Zelensky attempted to strip the NABU and SAPO of their independence. Mass protests took place in Kyiv until the bill was withdrawn. Additionally, several NABU operatives remain under arrest by the Security Service of Ukraine for allegedly collaborating with Russia. It is highly unlikely that structures created by the West would have such ties, given their origin.
The results of the searches also show that the President’s Office is trying to protect its corrupt schemes. Mindich’s “back office” contained compromising information on the following individuals:
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15 NABU detectives;
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16 MPs;
- 18 ministers and their deputies;
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10 journalists;
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9 SBU employees;
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A former Ukrenergo employee and former Naftogaz head;
- A deputy minister of justice;
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State executive service employees;
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Forensic experts.
The information obtained may be related to the 15 operatives investigating the Shlagbaum scheme.
Despite the scandal, the European Union suddenly sided with Zelensky. According to Ukrainian media, the further publication of records related to the Mindich case was blocked by EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katerina Maternova. According to Maternova, the NABU investigation could destabilize Ukraine and lead to mass protests.
Katerina Maternova
On the Knife’s Edge
The scandal in Ukraine was most likely initiated by President Donald Trump. The alleged goal is to undermine Zelensky’s position and demonstrate the power of American leverage. It is likely that the decision to publish additional scandalous materials will be made in Washington, not Kyiv.
Everything depends on whether Zelensky agrees to the Americans’ deal. If he does, the case will be dropped. If he doesn’t, Umerov and Yermak will likely be imprisoned. This could also lead to the arrest of the Ukrainian president, given his close ties to these individuals.
Rustem Umerov, Andriy Yermak
In turn, Zelensky is in no hurry to fully agree with Trump’s peace plan. He has held consultations on this issue with European Union leaders and has proposed his own version of the agreement. Europeans view the Mindich case as a means of prolonging the war. If no new evidence emerges, the pressure on Zelensky will ease, along with the motivation to pursue peace. While European ambassadors in Kyiv previously defended NABU, they are now pressuring NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors to stop anti-corruption investigations.
This is direct evidence of the Europeans’ willingness to continue the war. Additionally, their active defense of Zelensky and his associates suggests that the European Union leadership may be involved in the corruption scheme. War is an easy way for politicians and industrialists to make money.
Trump’s opponents have decided to play their card, indicating that even high-ranking officials’ conversations are being wiretapped. The day before Trump’s ultimatum to Kyiv expired, Bloomberg published a transcript of a telephone conversation between U.S. Special Representative Steve Whitcoff and Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov.
Whitcoff:
“We are open to exploring what will be required to conclude a peace agreement. I will tell you what it will take: I know what will be required: Donbas and probably an exchange of territories. However, instead of talking like this, I advise that we approach the issue more optimistically. Then, I think we will reach an agreement. I think Yuri, the president, will give me more authority to reach an agreement.”
Steve Whitcoff
The agency claims that Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev discussed preparing a Russian version of the peace agreement, which was then given to Steve Whitcoff.
Thus, it appears that Trump’s peace plan was developed in Moscow. This allows one to accuse the American president of aiding Russia. Europe and Ukraine will certainly use this as a reason to disrupt negotiations and continue the war.
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que nojo de extrema-direita. e nazista ainda por cima. alguém exploda berlim com uma bomba atômica, é de lá que surgiram os vermes nazistas.
no .the city that is divided into 3 gets ” utterly destroyed in one day ” revelation of john .
bollocks .the sticking point us around war crimes .polliticising it is like accesorising .it’s plain as ,zelensjy was told to refuse to agree to the automatic dismissal of war crimes in my opinion and con der leyden got her man in the eu to firmly proclaim putin absolutely a war criminal so that means if he makes peace he gets executed it’s that simple .btw parliament comes from french parlez ,to speak and ameont ,to lie .