New Midas recordings pull Zelenskyy allies deeper into Ukraine corruption scandal
Journalists publish contents of Mindich’s conversations with Shefir, Nataliia and Umerov (Photo: Screenshot from Ukrainska Pravda video via YouTube)
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau recorded
sanctioned businessman Tymur Mindich speaking with several people in his
apartment as part of the Midas corruption investigation, Ukrainska Pravda
reported after obtaining the first batch of audio.
The recordings capture Mindich’s conversations with Serhiy
Shefir, a former first aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; a woman
identified only as Natalia; and Rustem Umerov, now secretary of the National
Security and Defense Council. The journalists said all the conversations were
held in Russian and recorded in Mindich’s apartment at 9a Hrushevskoho St. in
the summer of 2025.
In one conversation, Mindich and Shefir discussed where to
find money to post bail for former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov,
who is suspected of abuse of office and accepting a bribe. Ukrainska Pravda
reported that Mindich said during the exchange that “Chernyshov pocketed six,
or 26, apartments.” Shefir also referred to “Kisel and Sova,” whom the
journalists believe may be lawmakers Yurii Kisel and Oleksandr Sova.
“First, that’s dishonest. If you’re on the team, then you …
With Kisel and Sova, if something happens somewhere, it comes here. I said
right away: 50% comes here,” Shefir said.
The conversation took place in the summer of 2025. In
December, Kisel was notified that he was a suspect as an alleged member of a
criminal group accused of bribing lawmakers for votes in the Verkhovna Rada.
Another recording captured a conversation with a woman named
Natalia.
“In this conversation, Mindich mentioned ‘Max Donets’ — likely
Maksym Donets, the head of the president’s personal security detail — as well
as ‘Shura’ and ‘Sigizmund,’ likely businessman Oleksandr Zuckerman and former
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko,” Ukrainska Pravda wrote.
They also discussed construction work, a swimming pool, tree
planting and other matters, as well as the need to “put the whole territory,
the entire shared base, on hold for a year.” The journalists said the
conversation likely referred to the Dynasty cooperative — estates in Kozyn. Ukrainska
Pravda’s sources said the houses belong to Zelenskyy, former head of the Office
of the President Andriy Yermak, Chernyshov and Mindich.
“He’s a complete idiot. If this comes out in the case, we’re
screwed,” Mindich said.
A third conversation was with Umerov, who was defense
minister at the time and is now secretary of the National Security and Defense
Council. The two discussed Umerov’s possible appointment as ambassador to the
United States and then-Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal’s possible move to the
Defense Ministry.
Mindich and Umerov also mentioned Fire Point and discussed
its long-range weapons models — FP-1, FP-5 and FP-7. Mindich complained to
Umerov that Fire Point was being underfunded.
Speaking in the Verkhovna Rada on April 28, Umerov said he
had already given competent law enforcement agencies all explanations about the
mention of his name in the Midas case and did not plan to report separately to
parliament on the matter.
On Nov. 11, 2025, a Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s
Office prosecutor said businessman Tymur Mindich had influenced former Energy
Minister Herman Halushchenko and Umerov, then defense minister and now
secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, throughout 2025.
Umerov said there was no basis for attempts to link his work
in office to the “influence” of private individuals. He said he had met with
Mindich to discuss the supply of body armor under one contract.
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