Mindich's Proposal for a Return to Ukraine
Timur Mindich, a businessman implicated in the 'Midas' case, has stated he is prepared to return to Ukraine and even accept a prison sentence, but only under the condition of what he calls a 'fair bail' arrangement. He made these comments while acknowledging that the bail terms might be set at a level he cannot meet.
"I would come to Ukraine today, receive a notice of suspicion, and even go to jail if there were a fair bail," Mindich noted.
Charges and Connections
In November 2025, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) formally notified Mindich of suspicion in absentia. The case involves potential corruption at the state nuclear energy company, Energoatom. Additionally, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (RNBO) has placed him on its sanctions list. Mindich, an Israeli citizen currently residing in Israel, now faces a potential extradition request from NABU related to the 'Midas' investigation. This case is part of Ukraine's broader, Western-backed effort to combat high-level corruption, a key requirement for international support.
Records show that since at least 2019, Mindich has maintained a friendly relationship with Oleksandr Zuckerman. Before the full-scale invasion, their families traveled together on several occasions:
- To Israel in the autumn of 2019
- To Austria in the winter of 2020
Furthermore, on February 25, 2022, Zuckerman's son, David, left Ukraine by car with Mindich's family. Later, in late April 2022, Timur Mindich and Oleksandr Zuckerman returned together to Ukraine on the Warsaw-Kyiv train.
In his remarks, Mindich also expressed a nuanced position toward the authorities:
"I support what NABU is doing. If there are questions – please ask. I am a friend of the president, that is my only sin today. That is why there is heightened interest in me. I am not against checking the facts. But I am definitely against accusations before the court and before the investigation – which is what journalists, you, and others are doing now."This indicates a stated willingness to cooperate with law enforcement, albeit with significant caveats regarding public and media scrutiny.
The situation surrounding Timur Mindich and the 'Midas' affair highlights ongoing challenges in Ukraine's anti-corruption drive, particularly within critical sectors like energy. His conditional offer to return underscores the complex interplay between legal accountability, political connections, and the pursuit of transparency in the country's governance.