Detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau are conducting searches at the residence of Justice Minister Herman Haluschenko, who previously held the position of Energy Minister, and businessman and co-owner of Kvartal 95 studio, associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Tymur Mindich.
As reported by Hvylia, this was announced by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, as well as sources in law enforcement agencies from Ukrainska Pravda.
Searches at Haluschenko's
According to Zheleznyak, NABU investigators are conducting large-scale searches related to corruption in the energy sector: they came to the former Energy Minister, Justice Minister Herman Haluschenko, and to Energoatom.
"Herman Haluschenko is being searched by NABU. And at Energoatom too, they say," he wrote.
This information was confirmed by two independent sources from UP.
Searches at Mindich's
Also, sources in law enforcement agencies told UP that NABU came with searches to Mindich on the morning of November 10. According to sources, the search is taking place in Kyiv.
At the same time, according to UP sources in political circles, Mindich left Ukrainian territory on November 10 — this happened several hours before the NABU search.
"Mindich fled the country at night, several hours before the searches," sources said.
For his part, State Border Guard Service representative Andriy Demchenko told NV that he does not have access to information about the departure from Ukraine of Kvartal 95 studio co-owner Tymur Mindich on November 10.
At the same time, he emphasized that the State Border Guard Service does not have the right to disclose information about border crossings by third parties.
Demchenko also did not answer the question at which state border checkpoint and at what time the crossing took place, as well as whether it was done on foot or by vehicle.
NABU Revealed Details of the Scheme
NABU confirmed that together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office they are conducting a large-scale operation to expose corruption in the energy sector.
"15 months of work and 1,000 hours of audio recordings. The activities of a high-level criminal organization have been documented. Its members built a large-scale corruption scheme of influence on strategic state sector enterprises, in particular, JSC NNEGC Energoatom," the statement said.
Among the participants established at this time:
- former adviser to the Energy Minister;
- Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security of JSC NNEGC Energoatom;
- businessman – head of the criminal organization;
- four people – back-office workers for money laundering.
Later, NABU revealed details of the scheme. They noted that the main activity of the criminal organization was the systematic extraction of illegal benefits from Energoatom contractors in the amount of 10% to 15% of the contract value.
In particular, Energoatom contractors were imposed conditions of paying kickbacks to avoid blocking payments for services provided/products delivered or losing supplier status. This practice became known as "shlagbaum" (barrier).
At the same time, the head of the criminal organization recruited a former deputy head of the State Property Fund, who later became an adviser to the Energy Minister, as well as a former law enforcement officer who held the position of Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security of the company.
Thus, using official connections in the ministry and the state company, they ensured control over personnel decisions, procurement processes, and the movement of financial flows.
"In fact, the management of a strategic enterprise with annual revenue of more than 200 billion UAH was carried out not by official authorities, but by outsiders who had no formal powers, yet took on the role of 'watchers,'" NABU emphasized.
Background
Tymur Mindich is a Ukrainian entrepreneur and film producer, among the owners of Kvartal 95 studio. In media and business circles, he is known as a person with wide connections. In particular, he is associated with oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky and the entourage of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mindich produced several Ukrainian films, including "Shchurolova" and "Bite of the She-Wolf." His business portfolio includes assets in the media sphere, real estate, as well as content rights abroad through Cypriot structures.
According to media reports, during 2024-2025, Mindich's name appeared in the context of several anti-corruption investigations regarding alleged misappropriation of budget funds. According to journalists, he is allegedly outside Ukraine, although there are no official confirmations of his whereabouts.
Herman Haluschenko has significant experience working in government agencies. His career includes service in the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, positions as deputy head of one of the departments of the Presidential Secretariat and director of the judicial work department at the Ministry of Justice.
In 2013-2014, he held the position of Executive Director for Legal Support at NNEGC Energoatom, and from May 2020 to April 2021 worked as vice president of this company.
Along with public service, Haluschenko teaches private international law at the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, where he works as an associate professor of the corresponding department.
Previously, it was reported that the State Bureau of Investigation detained former Ukrenergo head Kudrytsky.