New transcripts of the “Mindich tapes”: Shefira was summoned to a meeting of the Temporary Investigation Commission
29 April 09:34
Serhiy Shefir, former first assistant to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been summoned to a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada’s Temporary Investigation Commission due to newly released transcripts of conversations related to the NABU operation “Midas.” This was announced by the commission’s chairman, MP Oleksiy Goncharenko, on his Telegram channel, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Goncharenko stated that Shefir must provide an official explanation regarding the released materials, which, according to media reports, include his conversation with businessman Timur Mindich.
What Goncharenko said
Oleksiy Goncharenko, who heads the TSC, stated that one of the individuals mentioned in the published transcripts is Serhiy Shefir. According to the MP, this concerns a conversation that allegedly took place in an apartment at 9a Hrushevsky Street.
“I am summoning Shefir to give official testimony in this case. So we’ll see him at the hearing. The questions keep piling up,” Goncharenko said.
According to the TSC chairman, the meeting aims to clarify the circumstances described in the transcripts, particularly regarding discussions about bail for former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov.
What is known about the new transcripts of the “Mindich tapes”
“Ukrainska Pravda” reported that it had obtained a portion of the wiretap recordings involving figures in the NABU “Midas” operation. According to the publication, the materials feature businessman Timur Mindich and Serhiy Shefir, as well as references to individuals whom the interlocutors refer to as “Vova,” “Andriy,” “Oleg,” and “Lesha.”
Ukrainska Pravda notes that some of these materials have already been included in the case files, specifically regarding the imposition of preventive measures on the suspects.
The conversation about “Lesha” and bail
One of the key episodes in the new transcripts concerns a conversation in which, according to UP, Timur Mindich and Serhiy Shefir are speaking. In it, the interlocutors allegedly discuss a certain “Lesha,” who needs to raise funds—partly “officially,” partly “unofficially.”
Journalists link the context of this conversation to the situation surrounding former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov. At that time, Chernyshov was charged, and the court set his bail at 51 million hryvnias, which was paid the very next day.
In the transcripts cited by UP, the interlocutors discuss exactly how they could raise funds for the bail. The article mentions a division into official and unofficial parts, as well as references to a certain “fund” or “common pot.”
It was this episode that became one of the reasons for the political reaction. TSC Chairman Oleksiy Honcharenko stated that he is summoning Serhiy Shefir to the commission’s meeting on May 13 to provide official explanations regarding the published transcripts and a possible discussion of the bail for Oleksiy Chernyshov.
Earlier, a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) had already read excerpts from conversations in the High Anti-Corruption Court where, according to the investigation, Mindich and Shefir discussed the issue of bail for Oleksiy Chernyshov.
The excerpts read in court concerned where to obtain funds for the bail. In particular, the prosecutor cited references to “official” and “unofficial” contributions to the funds, as well as a mention of a certain “cash fund.”
The restaurant, Aristov’s birthday, and potential reputational risks
Another excerpt from the conversations, according to UP, concerns a discussion of a birthday celebration at a restaurant. The report suggests that this refers to former People’s Deputy Yuriy Aristov of the “Servant of the People” party, who previously resigned his seat following a scandal involving a vacation in the Maldives.
In this episode, the interlocutors allegedly discuss the potential risks of certain individuals appearing or being mentioned in the context of the celebration.
“Smirnov,” “Oleg,” and “Vova”: Who Is Mentioned in the Conversations
The new transcripts also mention several names or code names. In particular, the interlocutors speak of consulting with “Smirnov.” UP speculates that this may refer to former Deputy Head of the Office of the President Andriy Smirnov.
“Oleg” and “Vova” also appear in the conversations. The publication suggests that “Oleg” may refer to Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Oleg Tatarov. Regarding “Vova,” journalists repeatedly point to the context of the conversations, but these identifications have not been officially confirmed.
The episode involving estates in Kozin
According to UP, a separate set of new transcripts concerns a conversation between Timur Mindich and a woman named Natalia, who allegedly dealt with construction matters. The conversation concerned the suspension or halting of construction work.
In this context, UP mentions a Bihus.Info investigation into the construction of four estates in Kozin near Kyiv. Journalists claimed that during the full-scale war, the houses could have been built by people linked to then-Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov.
According to UP, the cottage community was called “Dynasty,” and the houses may have been linked to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andriy Yermak, Oleksiy Chernyshov, and Timur Mindich. Law enforcement officials have not officially confirmed these claims.
In a conversation about the construction project, as quoted by UP, the interviewee allegedly directly mentions Chernyshov’s surname and also refers to “Andriy” and “Vova.” According to the journalists, the conversation indicates that the interior facades at “Andriy’s” have already been completed, and a fence has allegedly been erected between Mindich’s and “Vova’s” houses.
The transcript also mentions that a certain “Max Donets” is expected to arrive. UP speculates that this refers to Maksym Donets, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s personal security detail.
What is Operation “Midas”?
Operation “Midas” is a large-scale investigation by NABU and SAPO into alleged corruption in the energy sector. According to anti-corruption agencies and the media, the case involves possible kickbacks in government contracts related to “Energoatom.”
In November 2025, NABU and the SAPO announced a large-scale operation and the detention of suspects. The case also involved former officials, businessmen, and individuals connected to the energy sector.
Why is the Temporary Investigative Commission looking into this case?
The Verkhovna Rada’s Temporary Investigation Commission has already held meetings dedicated to the “Midas” case and alleged corruption in the energy sector. These meetings were attended by the heads of NABU and SAPO, representatives of the State Bureau of Investigations and the State Financial Monitoring Service, as well as members of parliament.
At the TSC meeting, in particular, the origin of the funds deposited as bail for the individuals involved in the case was discussed. NABU Director Semen Kryvonos reported that the Bureau had received some documents from the State Financial Monitoring Service and is investigating the origin of the money to ensure that the bail does not include funds obtained through criminal means.
