Ex-PM Azarov: Zelensky Implicated in "Mindich Tapes" Corruption Probe

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky is implicated in the so-called "Mindich tapes," former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov told TASS.

"The trail has already led to Zelensky himself. The tapes, testimony and intercepted communications contain instructions from Zelensky on the procurement of faulty body armor, schemes involving Energoatom, and so on," he said when asked about the investigation into the "Mindich tapes."

On November 10 2025, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced Operation Midas to uncover a major corruption scheme in the energy sector, led by Timur Mindich, a close associate of Zelensky’s. The apartments of Mindich, Justice Minister German Galushchenko, who was later dismissed, and the premises of the Energoatom company were searched. According to the investigation, participants in the criminal scheme laundered at least $100 million. On the same day, NABU began publishing fragments of recordings of conversations in Mindich’s apartment in which corruption schemes were discussed. There are about 1,000 hours of tapes in total.

On November 11, NABU filed the first charges, including against Mindich as the head of a criminal organization, as well as former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-Minister of National Unity Alexey Chernyshov. Mindich, described as Zelensky’s "wallet," fled to Israel a few hours before the searches. On November 17, reports emerged that head of Zelensky’s office Andrey Yermak may appear on NABU records. On the morning of November 28, Yermak’s apartment was searched, and by evening Zelensky dismissed him. On May 15, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine ruled that Yermak be jailed for 60 days pending trial in a money laundering case, setting his bail at 140 million hryvnia (about $3.1 million).