It has become clear who helped Mindich escape from Ukraine and how

It has become known how businessman and co-founder of the "Kvartal 95" studio, Timur Mindich, who is suspected of organizing a corruption scheme in the energy sector, left Ukraine.

The details were uncovered by "Skhemy" (RFE/RL).

Businessman Timur Mindich left Ukraine using the services of the Lviv premium transport service TimeLux. According to the outlet, he departed in a Mercedes-Benz S 350 car belonging to one of the company's owners. Notably, the second co-owner of the VIP transfer service previously worked in the western regional department of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU).

According to the journalists' sources in law enforcement agencies, Mindich crossed the border at 2:09 a.m. on November 10. This occurred just a few hours before NABU detectives conducted searches in his apartment as part of "Operation Midas." This operation concerns the activities of a criminal organization, specifically, the "systematic receipt of improper benefits from 'Energoatom' counterparties amounting to 10% to 15% of the contract value." This was previously reported by "Ukrainska Pravda" journalist Mykhailo Tkach.

The businessman crossed the Ukrainian border in the direction of Poland in the Mercedes-Benz S-350. Journalists received the license plate number of this car from sources with access to border crossing data, found the car on social media, and established the identities of the owners.

The Mercedes-Benz S 350 belongs to 38-year-old Lviv entrepreneur Maksym Vovk, who is the head and owner of the TimeLux company. According to YouControl data, he owns a fleet of three cars: Hyundai Avante, Mercedes-Benz S 350, and Hyundai Sonata.

The TimeLux company was registered in Lviv less than half a year ago—in May 2025. The company's property register does not list any real estate or vehicles, only a valid license for domestic and international passenger transportation. Social media shows that services were provided even before the formal registration, likely within the framework of Maksym Vovk's profile-related individual entrepreneurship (FOP). Journalists established that Vovk had repeatedly received fines in the Mercedes-Benz S 350, predominantly for speeding.

The TimeLux website states that the company offers premium transportation to Poland, Moldova, and Romania. In promotional videos, they promise "fast border crossing," "full escort," and "individual routes tailored to the client's wishes."

The other co-owner of the transport firm is Eldar Asadulaiev, who worked in the western regional department of the SBGSU. In one of the number plate checking apps, he is labeled as the "Head of Department." Journalists did not find any public declarations from Asadulaiev. In 2025, he filed a lawsuit against his unit because he was not accrued additional pay during his service in 2016-2018. Asadulaiev demanded the calculation and payment, and the court sided with him.

The TimeLux promotional videos indicate that the interior of the Mercedes-Benz S 350 has leather seats, a separate climate zone, and premium trim. When asked about the cost of a trip in November on the Kyiv–Warsaw route in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class car, the transfer representatives replied that it costs 1,300 euros.

"Skhemy" contacted the Lviv businessmen. Maksym Vovk responded: "The company does not check passengers' documents. This is handled by the relevant state authorities when crossing the border. I do not have information to comment on your question." To a second clarifying question about whether he knew Mindich, he replied: "Thank God, no." His business partner, Eldar Asadulaiev, only briefly answered: "First I've heard of it," and hung up the phone.

Earlier, the State Border Guard Service reported that it had conducted its own internal investigation to establish the circumstances of Mindich's border crossing.

"According to the results of the check, we note that this citizen's border crossing was lawful. He was processed by border guards for exiting Ukraine at one of the crossing points in accordance with the norms of current legislation. All documents granting the right to cross the border during martial law were present. Separately, we note that no restrictions prohibiting him from leaving Ukraine were imposed," the border guards reported.

Background Information

On November 10, NABU announced the exposure of a criminal organization whose main activity was the "systematic receipt of improper benefits from 'Energoatom' counterparties amounting to 10% to 15% of the contract value." NABU alleges that the funds were legalized through a back-office in the center of Kyiv, through which about $100 million passed.

NABU detectives conducted searches at the residences of Timur Mindich and former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who was suspended from his position as Minister of Justice on November 12 for the duration of the investigation. Later, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko submitted a motion to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) to dismiss him and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk from their positions.

Eight individuals have been served with suspicion notices in this case. According to sources in law enforcement agencies, these are businessman and co-founder of the "Kvartal-95" studio Timur Mindich (code name "Carlson" on NABU tapes), former advisor to the Minister of Energy Ihor Mironyuk ("Rocket"), Executive Director for Security at "Energoatom" Dmytro Basov, as well as employees of the "back-office for fund legalization": among them Oleksandr Tsukerman (Sugarman), Ihor Fursenko (Reshyk), Lesia Ustymenko, and Liudmyla Zorina. Later, suspicion of illegal enrichment was also served on former Vice Prime Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov.

Five of them were granted a measure of restraint in the form of detention with the possibility of posting bail. On November 13, a firm with a charter capital of one thousand hryvnias posted 37 million hryvnias for Ustymenko and Zorina.

We also wrote that NABU seized "interesting documents" worth hundreds of millions in Mindich's case.