Ukrainska Pravda has published new audio recordings from Ukraine’s NABU investigation that allegedly involve Timur Mindich and figures close to President Volodymyr Zelensky, including Rustem Umerov and Serhii Shefir. The tapes add fresh detail to a widening corruption scandal around the state nuclear company Enerhoatom, with allegations of kickbacks, influence-peddling, luxury properties and attempts to shield allies from scrutiny.
NABU investigation expands
As reported by Ukrainska Pravda, the new recordings are part of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine’s “Midas” investigation and were published on 28 April 2026. The material reportedly includes conversations recorded in an apartment belonging to sanctioned businessman Timur Mindich at 9A Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv during the summer of 2025. Ukrainska Pravda said the first release includes talks with Serhii Shefir, formerly President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first assistant, and Rustem Umierov, Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council secretary and former defence minister.
The newly published material has intensified scrutiny of Zelensky’s wider political circle, after earlier reports linked Mindich to a broader corruption network in the energy sector. According to NABU, the scheme centred on Enerhoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear monopoly, where contractors were allegedly forced to pay kickbacks of 10% to 15% on contracts. BBC News reported that the investigation lasted 15 months, involved about 1,000 hours of recordings, and led to resignations in the energy and justice ministries in November 2025.
What the recordings show
According to Ukrainska Pravda, the tapes allegedly capture Mindich speaking with Serhii Shefir about finding money to post bail for former deputy prime minister Oleksii Chernyshov. The same set of recordings is also said to include conversations involving Rustem Umierov, in which defense contracts, bulletproof vests, drones, personnel changes and possible appointments were discussed. Ukrainska Pravda reported that one discussion touched on the possible sale of the Fire Point defence company.
The outlet also said the recordings were made in Russian and that one conversation took place on the morning of 1 July 2025. In another account, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the tapes included talk of construction in Kozyn for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andrii Yermak, Oleksii Chernyshov and Timur Mindich. These claims, if borne out, suggest the recordings go beyond routine political chatter and into questions of influence, patronage and possible concealment of assets.
Enerhoatom corruption claims
NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have said the probe uncovered what they described as a sophisticated money-laundering network tied to around $100 million in illicit proceeds. BBC News reported that anti-corruption agencies alleged the money was collected from Enerhoatom contractors and then laundered through the scheme, with images released showing bags filled with cash. NABU further said the funds were transferred abroad, including to Russia, and were channelled through an office in Kyiv linked to the family of Andrii Derkach, a former Ukrainian lawmaker who is now a Russian senator.
The Kyiv Independent reported that the group allegedly set up a major corruption scheme to control key state-owned enterprises, including Enerhoatom, while operating outside formal authority. The same outlet said a 15-month investigation and 1,000 hours of wiretapping led to 70 raids, and that the bureau alleged contractors were paying 10% to 15% of contract values. It also reported that nine suspects have been charged, including Mindich, former deputy prime minister Oleksii Chernyshov and former justice and energy minister Herman Halushchenko.
Political fallout in Kyiv
The scandal has already produced political consequences inside Ukraine. BBC News reported in November 2025 that the energy and justice ministers resigned after the scandal became public, while President Zelensky called for further action against those implicated. The Kyiv Independent reported that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau searched premises connected to Mindich in Kyiv and that he may have fled before the raids.
The latest reports have also put pressure on officials still serving in senior posts. Ukrainska Pravda and the Kyiv Independent said Rustem Umierov was questioned by NABU in November as part of an inquiry into alleged interference in the activities of a state official. The Kyiv Independent also reported in April 2026 that investigators were examining claims that Mindich attempted to influence Umierov to approve a contract for bulletproof vests, although that deal was never finalised.
Luxury homes and bail money
Beyond the energy contracts, the reporting has also raised questions about luxury property and personal bail arrangements. Ukrainska Pravda reported that Mindich feared charges against Oleksii Chernyshov could expose the construction of luxury houses linked to the suspects. The outlet added that NABU and SAPO opened a criminal case after journalists exposed the estates, and that the properties have been seized.
The Kyiv Independent likewise reported that suspects in the Enerhoatom case allegedly gave money to Chernyshov for the construction of high-end houses near Kyiv. Separately, Ukrainska Pravda said Mindich discussed finding money to help post bail for Chernyshov, who had earlier been charged in a different case involving bribery and abuse of office. That wider pattern has strengthened perceptions that the investigation may stretch beyond one sector and into a broader web of patronage around senior figures.
Role of Zelensky’s circle
The latest reports repeatedly place names from Zelensky’s political orbit at the centre of the story. Mindich has been described in prior reporting as a close associate of the president and co-owner of Kvartal 95, the television production company Zelensky founded before entering politics. Ukrainska Pravda’s April 2026 report said the tapes involve conversations with figures who have been close to the president, including Shefir and Umierov.
Intellinews reported in November 2025 that NABU had identified evidence of what it called a sophisticated money-laundering network and that its searches targeted premises linked to Mindich. The same reporting said the scandal was the second time Zelensky had been embroiled in corruption allegations and recalled his earlier attempt to place NABU under direct control through legislation, before he was forced to backtrack after protests. That context matters because the new tapes arrive at a moment when anti-corruption bodies are under public pressure to prove independence.
Why the case matters
This case matters because it combines three sensitive issues: wartime governance, state-owned energy assets and the credibility of anti-corruption reform in a country seeking deeper integration with Europe. BBC News reported that the corruption allegations have complicated Ukraine’s international position, with Russian officials citing the scandal during peace discussions and EU partners watching closely. The BBC also noted that Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts are being judged against the backdrop of EU membership ambitions.
The new recordings deepen the story because they suggest the alleged scheme may have involved not just contractors and bureaucrats, but also figures with direct access to the presidential circle. However, the reports cited so far describe allegations, published transcripts and investigative claims, not final court findings. That distinction remains crucial as the case develops and more material is released.
What happens next
NABU has said it will continue releasing details from the investigation, and BBC News reported that the bureau had promised further revelations after publishing new wiretap material. Ukrainska Pravda and related outlets have also indicated that the tapes are only the first part of a series. That suggests additional names, conversations and possible documentary evidence may emerge in the coming days.
For now, the central facts are clear: a major anti-corruption probe has reached into the upper tiers of Ukrainian politics, implicated senior allies of Zelensky, and triggered resignations, searches and fresh political pressure. The latest tapes do not settle the allegations, but they do widen the scope of the scandal and raise the stakes for everyone named in the reporting.
