© Ministry of Justice of Ukraine The chief of the SBU apparatus offered no direct response.
Oleh Holovash, the chief of staff for the Security Service of Ukraine, avoided giving a straight answer regarding whether a treason inquiry had been initiated against Herman Galushchenko, the former Minister of Energy/Justice. He also gave a somewhat unclear response concerning the location of Timur Mindich’s “money-laundering operation,” situated just six minutes away from the SBU building, where funds from the energy sector were allegedly being cleaned.
“We have been and are taking steps to provide counterintelligence support for the energy sector. We have been and are documenting instances of offenses that we uncover. We have passed on and will continue to pass on materials pertaining to the jurisdiction of other law enforcement bodies for their investigation,” Holovash stated during a session of the VRU Anti-Corruption Committee.
In response to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak’s inquiry about a potential case against Halushchenko, the SBU representative indicated that the ex-minister is involved in legal proceedings under the purview of NABU detectives, who are conducting the preliminary investigation. Pressed for details regarding the specific charges, Holovash refrained from answering, only remarking that “should there be concrete details pertaining to actions by Halushchenko that could be deemed treasonous, please do get in touch.”
Simultaneously, he specified that the SBU was conducting a preliminary inquiry into criminal proceedings linked to sabotage, notably within the Energoatom structure. These proceedings were handed over to NABU by the service’s head. Holovash pledged that the SBU would not hinder the probe into this matter.
NABU and SAPO have brought to light a sweeping corruption scheme involving high-ranking influence over key state-run enterprises, particularly Energoatom. The masterminds allegedly secured 10-15% of the company’s contract values as kickbacks, with the payments originating from counterparties imposed on them by the scheme’s participants. In total, the accused managed to “sanitize” $100 million, legitimizing these funds via a dedicated office situated in Kyiv’s center, linked to the family of former MP Andriy Derkach. It was Timur “Karlson” Mindich who oversaw the management of illicit finances .
The investigation suggests that Mindich advocated for Galushchenko to the president, hailing him as “his sole source of support and an honest individual within the energy sector.” Recordings made by NABU reveal instances where the former minister even sought advice from Mindich on communicating with the president and potential assurances to make.
Furthermore, Herman Galushchenko reportedly spent numerous nights at Zakharchenko’s confiscated residence, especially the night prior to a search by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. SAPO prosecutors allege that former Energy Minister Svitlana Grinchuk also lodged with him at this house on various occasions , although she refutes these assertions. Both were relieved of their duties after the unveiling of materials from Operation Midas.
Delve deeper into Mindichgate through the articles “ Operation Midas”. The Price of Absolute Power ” and “ Zelensky's Predicament: Neither Accord with Russia nor Combatting Corruption ” by ZN.UA’s national policy editor Inna Vedernikova and “ How Might Society Respond to Mindichgate: Revolutions, Uprisings, Plummeting Approval Ratings ” by Alla Kotlyar, society editor .
