Ukrainian Lawmaker Calls for Dismissal of Security Council Secretary Over FirePoint Scandal

Key facts

• Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of parliament's national security committee, said dismissing Rustem Umerov would be a 'wise political decision'.
• The Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Defense Ministry accused Umerov of abuse of power and disclosing state secrets.
• Recordings published by Ukrainska Pravda on April 29 allegedly capture Umerov and Timur Mindich discussing a stake sale in weapons maker FirePoint.
• Mindich, a sanctioned businessman, is a suspect in the 'Midas' corruption case involving Ukraine's energy sector.
• Denys Shtilerman, co-owner and chief designer of FirePoint, confirmed in November 2025 that Mindich sought a 50% stake in the company.
• Mindich's lawyer Andriy Kostenok denied the authenticity of the recordings and called for an investigation into the leak.
• A May 2025 international audit found that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) had not conducted a single successful prosecution for internal leaks.
• The president of Ukraine has the sole authority to appoint or dismiss the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

A Call for Dismissal

A senior lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the People party has publicly urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to dismiss Rustem Umerov as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) following the release of alleged recordings that have ignited a political firestorm. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of parliament's committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, said on the Svoboda Live program that removing Umerov would be a 'wise political decision' given the resonance of the tapes. The recordings, published by Ukrainska Pravda on April 29, purportedly capture Umerov — then defense minister — discussing the sale of a stake in the weapons manufacturer FirePoint with sanctioned businessman Timur Mindich.

The Recordings and the Allegations

The leaked audio, which Ukrainska Pravda said was documented by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) as part of the 'Midas' case, was allegedly recorded in Mindich's apartment in the summer of 2025. The conversations include discussions about Umerov's possible appointment as ambassador to the United States and detailed talk about FirePoint's long-range weapon models FP-1, FP-5, and FP-7. Mindich, who is under sanctions and a suspect in a corruption case involving Ukraine's energy sector, complained to Umerov that FirePoint was underfunded. The Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defense stated that Umerov's actions bore signs of abuse of power and disclosure of state secrets, and called for his suspension from the NSDC post.

Umerov's Defense and Legal Procedures

Umerov's press service has questioned the authenticity and relevance of the recordings, asserting that law enforcement must verify them. They stated that Umerov has already provided all necessary explanations to investigators and that 'communication about weapons is part of the defense minister's duties.' Under Ukrainian law, the president alone has the power to appoint or dismiss the NSDC secretary. Venislavskyi argued that even the suspicion of impropriety linked to Umerov's professional duties as defense minister, which 'clearly dissonated with state interests,' warranted his removal to demonstrate accountability.

Mindich's Lawyer Rejects Authenticity

Andriy Kostenok, Mindich's lawyer, issued a detailed statement to Radio Svoboda denying the authenticity of the recordings. He noted that the defense had not received the audio files or transcripts either officially or unofficially within the criminal proceedings, and that such materials are absent from the case file. Kostenok described the public dissemination of unverified materials as bearing 'signs of information manipulation' and a form of pressure. He called for a full investigation into the source of the leak and verification of the materials in accordance with the law. He also rejected allegations by lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak that the defense was involved in the leak, calling them baseless and an attempt to discredit lawyers.

Broader Context of Leaks and NABU's Record

by an international commission that conducted an external independent evaluation of NABU's effectiveness for the period from March 2023 to November 2024. The report, published on the Cabinet of Ministers website, stated that 'as of today, NABU has not conducted a single successful criminal proceeding regarding leaks of information by its own employees during pre-trial investigation — which poses a significant reputational threat to the Bureau.' This admission underscores a systemic problem within Ukraine's anti-corruption agency, which has been unable to police internal leaks despite numerous high-profile cases. The defense argues that the timing of previous publications in this case has often coincided with NABU procedural actions, further casting doubt on the 'leak from lawyers' theory.

FirePoint and the Stakes

FirePoint is a Ukrainian weapons manufacturer that produces long-range strike systems, including the FP-1, FP-5, and FP-7 models. In November 2025, Denys Shtilerman, the company's co-owner and chief designer, confirmed that Mindich had sought a 50% stake in the firm. The company's strategic importance to Ukraine's defense industry makes any allegations of improper influence particularly sensitive. Venislavskyi's call for Umerov's dismissal reflects growing unease within political circles about the optics of a senior security official being linked to a sanctioned businessman amid a war. The case has also reignited debates about transparency and accountability in Ukraine's defense sector, which has been plagued by corruption scandals since the start of the full-scale invasion.

What Comes Next

The ball is now in President Zelenskyy's court. While Venislavskyi's statement carries weight as a member of the ruling party's security committee, it remains unclear whether the president will act on the recommendation. Umerov has not publicly commented on the recordings beyond his press service's initial statement. NABU has not commented on the published recordings. The authenticity of the tapes remains unverified, and the legal process is likely to be protracted. The case highlights the ongoing tension between Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts and the exigencies of wartime governance, where security officials often operate with broad discretion. For now, the FirePoint scandal has become a test of whether Ukraine's political leadership is willing to hold its own accountable, even when the evidence is contested.

The bottom line

• A senior lawmaker from the ruling party has called for Rustem Umerov's dismissal as NSDC secretary over leaked recordings about FirePoint.
• The recordings allegedly capture Umerov discussing a stake sale in a weapons manufacturer with a sanctioned businessman, Timur Mindich.
• Mindich's lawyer has denied the authenticity of the tapes and demanded an investigation into the leak, citing NABU's poor record on internal leaks.
• The Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Defense Ministry says Umerov's actions bear signs of abuse of power and disclosure of state secrets.
• President Zelenskyy has sole authority to dismiss Umerov, but has not yet responded to the calls for action.
• The scandal underscores persistent corruption concerns in Ukraine's defense sector amid the ongoing war with Russia.