On May 14, 2026, businessman Timur Mindich filed a lawsuit with the Court of Cassation in Administrative Cases — case No. 990/181/26. The defendant is President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The purpose is to overturn decree No. 843/2025 from November 13, 2025, by which the National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions against Mindich and his partner Alexander Tsukerman. The filing of the lawsuit was announced by Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
The paradox of the situation lies in its chronology. On November 10, 2025, NABU detectives conducted searches at Mindich's premises, the company "Energoatom," and then-Justice Minister and former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Mindich managed to leave Ukraine just hours before the investigative actions began. Three days later — a decree on sanctions. Then a warrant in absentia from VAKS and a request to Interpol: in January 2026, both suspects — Mindich and Tsukerman — were placed on the international wanted list. The Office of the Prosecutor General sent an official extradition request to Israel.
What is Operation "Midas" and what is Mindich's role
According to NABU and the SAP, the corruption scheme operated within the state company "Energoatom" — the operator of nuclear power plants that generate more than half the country's electricity. Contractors of the state company were offered kickbacks ranging from 10% to 15%, with threats to block payments or terminate contracts.
In intercepted conversations documented by NABU, Mindich appears under the pseudonym "Carlson," while Tsukerman goes by "Sugarman." Ruslan Magamederasulove, head of NABU's detective division, clarified in an interview with Suspilne that Mindich played the role of a top manager in the scheme, but was not its main beneficiary — the question of who stood above him remains open in the investigation.
"Mindich figures in NABU/SAP investigations related to the activities of 'back offices' — 'money laundering operations' at 'Energoatom,' his influence over 'Sense Bank,' and deals in the defense sector."
KP.UA, review of procedural status of suspects, May 2026
"Dynasty" case: second suspicion and connection to Yermak
On May 12, 2026 — two days before the lawsuit was filed — Mindich received a second suspicion: in the case of the "Dynasty" cooperative in Kozyn, Kyiv region. On the same day, former Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak also received a suspicion. According to SAP prosecutor Valentyna Hrebeniyuk, Yermak is suspected of constructing one of the complex buildings with criminal proceeds. On May 14, VAKS chose a preventive measure for Yermak — he went to pre-trial detention, as a bail of 140 million hryvnias was not posted for him.
Thus, Mindich filed his lawsuit in the same week that NABU and the SAP expanded the circle of suspects in the related case to include his closest associates.
What the lawsuit could achieve
Sanctions restrict Mindich's assets in Ukraine and complicate his financial operations. Their cancellation through court — for now, the only legal instrument available to a person outside the country avoiding extradition. At the same time, the Court of Cassation in Administrative Cases examines the legality of the procedure for imposing sanctions, not the justification of suspicions in criminal cases: these are different proceedings with different standards of proof.
- Mindich is suspected in at least two criminal proceedings: "Midas" (Energoatom) and "Dynasty"
- Arrested in absentia by VAKS; after an appeal in April 2026, the suspicion remained in force
- On Interpol's wanted list since January 2026
- The Office of the Prosecutor General sent an extradition request to Israel
- Pseudonym "Carlson" in NABU materials; Tsukerman ("Sugarman") — in the same status
If the Court of Cassation satisfies the lawsuit and recognizes the sanctions procedure as unlawful, this will not remove the criminal suspicions — but will open up the possibility for Mindich to operate the blocked assets even before any verdict. The question is different: whether Israel will agree to extradition before the court manages to consider the lawsuit on the merits.
