KYIV / JERUSALEM – Ukraine’s top anti-corruption authorities have formally requested Israel’s assistance in locating a private jet allegedly carrying more than 800 kilograms of gold, millions in cash, and a close associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who fled the country just before a raid on his home last year.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), has sent an official request to the Israeli Ministry of Justice. The target of the request is Timur Mindich, a dual Ukrainian-Israeli citizen described by investigators as a key figure in a sprawling $100 million corruption scheme.
According to NABU’s request, Mindich left Ukraine in November 2025 – just hours before anti-corruption officers raided his home. He reportedly flew to Israel aboard a private jet.
But it is the cargo onboard that has stunned investigators:
- Over 800 kg of gold
- At least $17 million in cash
NABU has asked Israel’s Ministry of Justice to help locate both the aircraft and the assets, arguing that the gold and cash constitute key evidence in the corruption case against Mindich.
The request to Israel comes just days after another close ally of President Zelensky faced justice on Ukrainian soil. On May 12, Andriy Yermak, a powerful figure often described as the president’s right-hand man, appeared in a Kyiv courtroom after being formally named as a suspect in a separate money-laundering scheme.
Israel’s Ministry of Justice has not publicly confirmed receipt of the request. Several legal experts believe, that under existing bilateral legal assistance frameworks, Israel would be expected to locate any assets or individuals linked to serious financial crimes and consider transferring evidence – or the suspect himself – back to Kyiv.
