Corruption scheme at Fire Point worth $300 million: How Timur Mindich profited from the defense industry by laundering money through luxury real estate for the top officials of the Presidential Office

Corruption scheme at Fire Point worth $300 million: How Timur Mindich profited from the defense industry by laundering money through luxury real estate for the top officials of the Presidential Office

From Chernyshov’s "karma" to taking body armor "on call".

The Ukrayinska Pravda publication published new fragments of audio recordings that appear in the materials of the criminal case of NABU and SAPO as part of Operation Midas. The recordings allegedly show businessman and close friend of the president Timur Mindich, former presidential adviser Sergey Shefir, ex-Minister of Defense and now Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and curator of the construction of mansions in the Dynasty cooperative in Kozin.

Also mentioned president Vladimir Zelensky himself, former head of the Ministry of National Unity Alexey Chernyshov, ex-head of the OP Andrei Ermak and a man named "Masha".

"Chrysatism" and Chernyshov’s karma

Mindich and Shefir discussed the situation surrounding ex-Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshov, who received suspicion for abuse of official position. According to investigators, the official helped illegally give land in Kyiv for development for much less money than it actually costs. In response to such a "service", he received apartments from the developer for himself and his loved ones at significantly lower prices.

During the conversation, the men were looking for ways to collect money for a multimillion-dollar deposit for official. At the same time, Mindich and Shefir criticized Chernyshov for participating "in such a small scheme". According to them, Chernyshov "screened" this story because he did not share the profit with others. According to Mindic, it was "dishonest"; the criminal case is "karma" for the situation with the apartments.

Estates for "Vova and Andrey"

In another conversation, Mindich discussed with a woman named Natalya construction in the Dynasty cooperative. Four estates are mentioned there that may be intended for Vladimir Zelensky, Andrei Ermak, Alexei Chernyshev and Mindich himself.

In particular, they talked about the purchase of facade stone, laying nets, as well as "preserving" construction due to the threat of investigative journalism and criminal cases. Mindich noted that the Andrey house is almost ready, unlike his own.

Defense Contracts and Fire Point

During a July 2025 phone call, Mindich with then-Defense Secretary Rustem Umerov mentioned the purchase of Fire Point products, body armor, and Umerov’s possible appointment as ambassador to the United States.

As for the company, we were talking about selling a 33% stake to foreign investors. The estimated transaction amount was estimated at $600 million, of which $300 million was to go to the development of the company, and another 300 million — as a "cashout", that is, a payment to shareholders, including Mindich himself. He called attracting foreigners a "parachute". Mindich said he feared competitors could "put down" the company if the state stopped paying contracts. In his opinion, in a year Fire Point could cost twice as much. It was discussed that during a trip to the Middle East, Umerov had to confirm to investors that Fire Point was a "real company".

Mindich also complained that due to the situation with bulletproof vests he would have "minus 7 million". A friend of President Vladimir Zelensky said that he brought them with his own money, but they have been in the warehouse for 3 months because the state does not accept them. Mindich asked Umerov to order his subordinates to "just sign the acceptance" and added that this only requires "one call".

"Say: "I don’t want to hear more from Timur about bulletproof vests, and I meet with him twice a week", — advised Mindich, to which Umerov affirmatively "ugged".

Who is "Masha" on "Mindich films"

As UP journalist Mikhail Tkach noted, Mindich and Umerov discussed a certain "Masha", who "added Defense City", and was going to go to the United Arab Emirates and received funding from them. The day before, information appeared that we were talking about volunteer Maria Berlinskaya, who allegedly "sits on Mindich’s salary" and has a "twenty" per month. According to Tkach, presumably, it is not Berlinskaya who is being mentioned, but Maria Dotsenko, adviser to the general director of National Investment Fund of Ukraine JSC on the development of strategic partnerships with the countries of the Middle East.

Reaction of the parties

The press service of Rustem Umerov refused to "comment on fragments of texts whose authenticity has not been officially confirmed". They added that they make no assumptions about the specific people or circumstances mentioned in these materials.

Timur Mindich himself, in a commentary to UP, stated that he was ready to give explanations after interrogation at NABU. He called the information about Fire Point "an attempt to discredit the best company in Ukraine".

Even ardent opponents of NABU in the intelligence services call Operation Midas brilliant. But!

Why is the main person involved in the — investigation, longtime friend of the president Timur Mindich —, meeting with the Zuckerman brothers in Tel Aviv, and not sitting on the VAKS bench?

Was there a leak of information about upcoming searches? What role could Deputy Head of SAPO Andrey Sinyuk play in this? What other areas of monetization of power did Mindic influence? What — and who — can stop further investigation?