Public Anti-Corruption Council at Ukraine's Defence Ministry calls for national security chief to be suspended

The Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has said that the actions of Rustem Umierov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), show signs of abuse of power and disclosure of state secrets during his time as defence minister, when he discussed with Tymur Mindich a potential sale of a stake in the FirePoint arms manufacturer to investors. The council has called for Umierov to be suspended from the post of secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.

Source: Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defence on Facebook

Quote: "We interpret Rustem Umierov's actions as showing signs of abuse of power under Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. As regards the promotion of Mindich's interests in the cases involving the 'Israeli body armour' and FirePoint, we see signs of disclosure of a state secret by a person to whom it was entrusted or became known in the course of their duties, under Article 328 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

We interpret Tymur Mindich's actions as showing signs of abuse of influence under Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and incitement to misuse of funds under Article 27.4 and Article 210 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine."

Details: The Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defence issued the statement after UP published recorded conversations and released an article on links between the former defence minister, sanctioned businessman Tymur Mindich and FirePoint.

The files obtained by anti-corruption agencies indicate that Umierov considers Mindich to be the actual owner of FirePoint: "All the data clearly indicates that Timur Mindich is indeed either one of the company's beneficiaries or its only real beneficiary."

Quote: "When this fact is legally confirmed, for example by a court ruling, FirePoint will completely lose the ability to supply its products to the defence forces of Ukraine because Tymur Mindich is on sanctions lists."

More details: The Public Anti-Corruption Council noted that FirePoint had likely provided knowingly false information about its beneficiaries and should be fined and classified as a high-risk supplier.

The council called on the country's leadership to "fully distance itself from past and present friendly relations with people who used their position, offices and connections for personal enrichment".

The council is calling for Umierov to be immediately suspended from the post of secretary of the NSDC.

The council is also proposing that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiate the process of partially nationalising FirePoint.

The Public Anti-Corruption Council also believes the ministry should set up a working group with representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the branches and services that use FirePoint products, as well as anti-corruption and investigative bodies, to audit the company's contracts and pricing.

The council said it is ready to join the work of such a group.

Background:

• On 29 April, Ukrainska Pravda posted recorded conversations obtained by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine in the Midas case. They included a conversation between sanctioned businessman Tymur Mindich and Rustem Umierov, former defence minister, now Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, in which they discussed a potential sale of a stake in the FirePoint arms manufacturer to investors.
• Umierov's press service said the authenticity and relevance of the recordings must be confirmed by law enforcement officers. It also said Umierov had already provided all necessary explanations to law enforcement agencies and that "communication on weapons is part of the defence minister's duties".
• In November 2025, FirePoint co-owner and chief designer Denys Shtilerman confirmed that Mindich had sought to acquire a 50% stake in the company.

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