Shtilerman made the statement at a press briefing in Kyiv. Fire Point manufactures several combat drones used by the Ukrainian military, as well as the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile. According to Shtilerman, Mindich showed interest in becoming a co-owner after Fire Point conducted first successful tests of its products in March 2024.
“At that time, the company was inundated with offers,” he said. However, Mindich's proposed purchase price was deemed too low and “uncompetitive,” leading Fire Point to reject it.
“Mindich was one of the individuals interested in partnering with us. Negotiations lasted quite a while; he was keen, but we ultimately refused.”
In October 2025, Shtilerman said that Mindich had approached the company with an offer, which was declined. He mentioned maintaining "good relations" with Mindich but said selling him a stake could hinder Fire Point's international growth ambitions.
Shtilerman also confirmed that Ihor Fursenko, implicated in Operation Midas (an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine into Mindich and his co-conspirators), was instrumental in helping Shtilerman’s ex-wife and children leave Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Fursenko is currently under arrest in connection with NABU’s investigation.
“Ihor Fursenko and his assistant helped evacuate my family from Russia,” Shtilerman stated. "He was employed as an administrator with us."
Additionally, Shtilerman disclosed that Mykhailo Tsukerman, brother of another key figure under investigation for energy sector corruption, is his personal banker.
“Tsukerman is my banker, and I trust him with my finances,” he added, noting that he last met with Tsukerman in 2024.
The Fire Point founders clarified that the NABU never searched their offices. However, they cooperated with investigators probing potential price inflation of drone systems in government contracts, which involves six other firms.
On Nov. 14, opposition MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak suggested, according to his sources, that “Shmel,” a figure in NABU's Operation Midas tapes presented in court, is Fire Point co-owner Ihor Khmelyov. Zheleznyak further alleged that Shtilerman appears as "Elektronik" in the tapes.
On this matter, Shtilerman commented that Khmelyov does not own a stake in the company; he worked there until he resigned four months ago amid “rumors involving Mindich.”