Tetiana Nikolaienko

On Karlson’s rooftop: how Mindich built mansions, why Chernyshov was given old dollars, and how advisers to traitors selected ministers The three days since the Mindich tapes were made public have profoundly changed our understanding of how things work. The question is no longer whether the tapes exist, but who is really running this country. 13.11.25 20:55 15 045 34 Previously in trend: Mindich’s business

Operation "Midas": how Halushchenko’s adviser and Energoatom’s "overseer" embezzled millions from state and who will now catch "Karlson" Mindich On 10 November, officers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) carried out a large-scale operation to uncover corruption in the energy sector. It was underpinned by 15 months of work, 1,000 hours of audio recordings, and 70 searches. 11.11.25 21:56 13 679 70 Previously in trend: Mindich’s business Energy sector corruption

Pecherskyi court’s travesty of justice returns: how Kudrytskyi was arrested over non-existent losses Former head of Ukrenergo National Power Company, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, has been taken into custody for two months with bail set at 13 million UAH, accused of "abuse of office and unlawful appropriation of state company funds." The Pecherskyi Court’s decision followed several searches of Kudrytskyi’s premises by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and an Ekonomichna Pravda article suggesting that the criminal prosecution attempts against the former Ukrenergo chief are politically motivated. 30.10.25 19:47 15 868 37 Previously in trend: Kudrytskyi’s case

Whether Russian bear roused Europe: unwarranted optimism and cold shower at security forum in Warsaw On September 10, more than 20 Russian drones attacked Polish airspace. To repel the attack, the air forces of four NATO countries were scrambled, with F-35s engaged in taking down the drones, and the resources employed were disproportionate to the threat. As a result of the attack, one house was destroyed and four Polish airports suspended operations for at least four hours. 03.10.25 16:41 11 517 24

About Serhii Tihipko, Forbes and business role model I suspect that those who have worked as political and economic journalists may have radically different attitudes towards this person. 29.09.25 12:27 8 320 24

Textile war over $200 million, one arrest and long list of MoD corruption risks On August 21, 2025, officers of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), with the operational support of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), served notices of suspicion to officials of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and to the director of a supplier company that had delivered substandard ballistic goggles. 10.09.25 21:26 2 920 4 Previously in trend: Corruption in MoD

In winter without jackets: how change in fabric stopped delivery of 100,000 jackets for AFU The Ukrainian Armed Forces will not receive 50,000 winter jackets in September, and the delivery of another 50,000 in November is also in doubt. The reason for this is a shortage of fabric used for the outer layer of windproof and waterproof jackets. 27.08.25 14:28 6 929 25 Previously in trend: Clothing procurement for AFU Sewing winter jackets for AFU

Everything is up to court: how Hlyniana and Adamovsky got 4 billion contracts to feed army The most scandalous suppliers of food to the Ministry of Defence have not disappeared and continue to take the biggest chunks of the tenders. Companies from the pool of Tetiana Hlyniana and Andrii Adamovskyi have discovered a new way to win the desired tenders. And the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal is helping them a lot. 11.08.25 15:53 9 765 12 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement in SLO Procurement of products for the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Find $6 billion and not kick bucket in fighting over pots: what Umerov left to Shmyhal The attack on the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) diverted attention from another significant event that has remained entirely in the shadows - the replacement of the defence minister. It has been more than three weeks since Denys Shmyhal assumed this post. In that time, he has appointed his deputies and outlined his priorities, making it the right moment to examine the legacy Rustem Umierov left him and the challenges now facing the ministry. 08.08.25 19:32 30 781 20 Previously in trend: defense procurement Defense Ministry appointments

MultiCam VS pixel. Why did fabric change pave way for corruption scandal? Over the past two months, the Ministry of Defense has been facing its second major textile scandal, on which both the timely delivery of military clothing and the multimillion- or even billion-dollar earnings of certain suppliers hinge. 05.08.25 12:42 12 142 15 Previously in trend: Clothing procurement for AFU Replacing pixel with multicam

Who is Tymur Mindich – from Kolomoiskyi’s almost-son-in-law to energy overseer and NABU case figure A figure in the NABU case on embezzlement of state funds, Tymur Mindich is currently in Austria. This was reported on Friday by sources at Censor.NET. This news emerged amid numerous statements by deputies and activists that the potential serving of a notice of suspicion to Mindich is precisely what set off a chain reaction in the form of curbing the powers of SAPO and NABU. 29.07.25 23:00 40 423 89

Yermak’s multi-move strategy: NABU and SAPO on SSU detectors and Europe’s lost trust The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which destroyed the autonomy of the NABU and the SAPO, have not only led to the fact that for the second day in a row, crowded protests have been held in various cities of Ukraine (for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war), but have also actually threatened Ukraine’s European integration. 25.07.25 13:25 36 732 53 Previously in trend: Abolition of NABU and SAPO independence

Black days for anti-corruption activists: from SSU raids to destruction of SAPO and NABU independence On Tuesday, the parliament voted on a draft amendment to the Criminal Code of Ukraine that eliminated the independence of NABU and SAPO. The dismantling of the anti-corruption agencies was supported by 263 deputies. 22.07.25 21:48 6 763 17 Previously in trend: Pressure on NABU

Yuliia’s Cabinet of Ministers: Why Stefanishyna is heading to Brussels, while Halushchenko might be transferred to Ministry of Justice On July 16, the Verkhovna Rada is set to appoint Yuliia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s Prime Minister. This marks the end of a year-long saga over the change of the premiership. 16.07.25 18:57 6 376 12 Previously in trend: New Cabinet

Defence indulgences: how persons involved in Reznikov-era scandals might get off scot-free The bill on so-called defense indulgences has not yet been considered, but some figures involved in scandals surrounding the Ministry of Defense procurement are already trying to resolve their legal issues. 14.07.25 17:11 5 670 15 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement for AFU

"About discounts and books": how Chernyshov denied his guilt in court Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity Oleksii Chernyshov was issued a preventive measure by the HACC in the form of a UAH 120 million bail. After the ruling, he stated that he did not plan to resign. 01.07.25 17:39 10 962 24 Previously in trend: Chernyshov’s case

Between flight and suspicion: how Chernyshov handed over land in exchange for apartments worth 15 million Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov’s departure abroad on the eve of being served with a notice of suspicion became last week’s most-talked-about event. The Prime Minister and the President had to justify his actions. 24.06.25 19:57 9 601 18

Portnov’s death and its consequences: impact on courts, Poroshenko’s case and political project in place of OPFL Last week, the former deputy head of President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration, Andrii Portnov, was shot dead in Madrid. The violent joyful reaction of social media to the politician’s death eclipsed for a while the question of why he was killed and what he was doing in the last months of his life. 30.05.25 14:35 17 979 64

Without jackets and underwear: why suppliers have started another war with Ministry of Defence In May 2025, almost 20 tenders of the "State Logistics Operator" for the supply of non-lethal supplies to the army were cancelled. These were mostly textile products, such as jackets, trousers, underpants, bags, and backpacks. 29.05.25 15:31 12 194 25 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement in SLO Clothing procurement for AFU

Trump chooses friendship with russia over sanctions. What’s next? US President Donald Trump chooses to be friends with russia rather than stop the war. Another conversation between Trump and Vladimir Putin about Ukraine has ended in nothing. In principle, it could not have ended any other way. 22.05.25 12:22 11 459 29

Exemplary fraud: 4 stories about how Ukraine had paid for weapons but received nothing or junk Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has paid about $770 million in advance to foreign suppliers for weapons and ammunition that have never been delivered. 21.05.25 14:16 15 751 23 Previously in trend: Scandals with procurement for AFU

NATO’s requirement or their own management: why are DPA and DOT being merged? On Thursday, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), Arsen Zhumadilov, announced the merger of the DPA and the State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT). The announcement came as no surprise, as both had been working on this initiative since the autumn of 2024. 05.05.25 19:50 5 105 7

PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTRE No. 2. Taganrog – place where Viktoriia Roshchyna was killed and thousands of Ukrainians are being tortured Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna was tortured by Russians in pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Taganrog. This is the result of an international investigation involving 13 leading international media outlets. 01.05.25 12:54 11 595 25 Previously in trend: Death of Victoria Roshchyna

High-rises in Kytaiv and cottages near Serpent’s Wall – how land carve-up was masked by "bona fide owners" On Monday, April 7, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Bill No. 12089, which restricts the ability to reclaim unlawfully alienated land. He signed it despite a petition urging him not to do so. 10.04.25 22:45 9 035 8

Why MoD supplier is complaining about pressure from SBI and whether it is really overcharging On Sunday, businessman Oleksandr Sokolovskyi said that the State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into his companies, which supply textiles to the Defense Ministry, over allegations of overpricing and transferring funds abroad. According to the businessman, this is how he is being pressured to pay bribes to certain entities. 31.03.25 16:57 5 719 3

To hide loot. How MPs save their wealth under guise of caring about defence The last week was marked by some over-activity of MPs in an attempt to protect their property from the attention of journalists and anti-corruption bodies. 27.03.25 12:53 11 364 15

Saving Tsarevych and KDAC: How SBI case could change fate of notorious judges It is unclear how searches involving 20 people in the early morning could change the essence of the case in which Tandyr fatally hit a man. However, this proceeding could ultimately allow a number of notorious judges to retain their positions. 19.03.25 22:03 14 371 27 Previously in trend: Judicial reform

No new contracts: How DPA failed to procure ammunition for 2 months and what it will cost us As of the end of February, the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) had not concluded a single new contract to procure ammunition. This could severely impact the Ukrainian army’s supply chain in the coming months and result in Ukraine having to resort to buying weapons from resellers again. 11.03.25 17:14 10 178 26

Followers of Putin’s narratives: how Musk has sunk to level of Russian soldier Over the past month, Ukrainians have witnessed just how cynical geopolitics can be and how easily black can be made to seem white. Donald Trump became the leader in distorting facts during his first term, but after he called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator and Putin a victim, even the usually loyal New York Post issued an explanation of who the real dictator is. 04.03.25 21:10 13 475 47 Previously in trend: Musk’s statements about Ukraine and Zelenskyy

How DOT purchases Israeli bulletproof vests through shell companies Despite Ukraine entering its fourth year of war, the issue of supplying the military with bulletproof vests remains critical in our country. The problem is that the Ukrainian manufacturer offering the lowest prices cannot fully meet the demand, while others cannot afford to sell below cost. 03.03.25 18:13 9 098 10

Blocking supply of drones to military units: who is to blame and what has been done It is becoming a bad tradition of the Cabinet of Ministers to adopt resolutions that are detrimental to the supply of the frontline. In 2023, this was the case with Resolution 335, which forgot to mention the word "profit", and after which some defence companies were threatened with criminal proceedings. At the end of 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution 1450, which effectively blocked the procurement of drones and electronic warfare for military units. 26.02.25 13:02 7 825 15

Petro Poroshenko: Coal case was initiated by Bakanov, prepared by Naumov, and investigated by Kulinich, who was arrested for treason On February 12, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy imposed sanctions on Petro Poroshenko. The measures against the opposition leader and the European Solidarity faction include asset freezes, a ban on economic activity, and the revocation of titles and awards. 19.02.25 23:09 52 380 113

Whether Supreme Court will allow Kolomoiskyi’s company not to return billions to state Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the claim of NPC Ukrenergo, allowing it to recover ₴1.1 billion in financial guarantees from JSC Bank Alliance for electricity supplied to United Energy LLC, a company linked to Ihor Kolomoiskyi’s interests. 18.02.25 23:10 5 808 32

Arsen Zhumadilov: Bezrukova essentially created system that put all pressure on her, since everyone knew that she alone was making key decisions On January 31, Minister Rustem Umierov dismissed Maryna Bezrukova, the head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA). This decision followed nearly six months of behind-the-scenes confrontation, which likely cost Ukraine the timely and efficient delivery of weapons. Then came the open phase of the conflict, with the minister accusing the DPA of procurement failures and information leaks, followed by nearly a week of turmoil involving agency leadership changes through notaries. 05.02.25 22:45 50 670 44

Zhumadilov’s year: significant progress, but with contracts for Peoples’ Deputies relatives firms On Friday, Defense Minister Rustem Umierov announced that Arsen Zhumadilov will now head both the DOT (State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition) and the DPA (Defense Procurement Agency) 27.01.25 20:29 9 895 33

Maryna Bezrukova: We are not tame buyers who are ready to drain budget into billions, just by someone’s verbal order The Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency has extended the contract with Maryna Bezrukova, and later Defense Minister Rustem Umierov announced that he was dismissing Bezrukova. 25.01.25 17:35 29 944 35

Have you seen Hlyniana’s trunk? That’s enough. How Defence Ministry’s food mafia has kept its market Two years have passed since the scandal surrounding the 17 UAH eggs. During this time, the Minister of Defence has changed, the "State Logistics Operator" has been launched, but the "food mafia" continues to supply food to the Ukrainian army. 22.01.25 14:44 17 487 39

Year and half of reforms go down drain: why Umierov’s team encroached on independence of agencies One of the key positive changes in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was the launch of two procurement agencies. This initiative emerged during the tenure of Minister Oleksii Reznikov as a response to corruption abuses by MoD officials and was finalized under Minister Rustem Umierov. 17.01.25 23:11 13 619 32 Previously in trend: Fighting corruption in Ukraine

Lobbying cloaked by humanism: how People’s Deputies reduced fines for failing to supply weapons to front lines On Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada passed bill 6013, which, in addition to repealing the Commercial Code, included amendments to reduce fines for defense suppliers. 10.01.25 21:53 3 301 13

Alongside state treason: whether largest supplier of oils to Ministry of Defense is connected to Ponomarov’s group A few days ago, Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov boasted that the procurement agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the State Logistics Operator, saved UAH 2.26 million when purchasing lubricants for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2025. 07.01.25 23:00 10 799 12

Unsinkable Boiko: how did they forget about towers of politician and why does he need TikTok This weekend, the Ukrainian segment of Facebook was exploding with indignation at the statements made by the head of the "Platform for Life and Peace" parliamentary group in the Verkhovna Rada, Yurii Boiko. 18.12.24 16:07 9 823 47

How infighting in Ministry of Defence makes financiers laugh at them, but does not remove suspicions of promoting one supplier Two weeks after the Cabinet of Ministers handed over 23 billion to the State Border Guard Service for the purchase of ammunition from a particular company, the Ministry of Defence has finally decided to explain why it did so. Allegedly, so that this money would not simply burn up by the end of the year. Censor.NET investigated whether this is true. 17.12.24 14:00 9 247 25

What’s happening with Krupa’s case after 2 months: correspondence with SBI and new episodes about solar stations On 4 October 2024, the SBI exposed Tetiana Krupa, head of the Khmelnytskyi MSEK, and her son, head of the Pension Fund’s regional office, for illegal enrichment. 13.12.24 14:09 26 668 25

Arms wars and New Year’s gifts: how 23 billion were taken from disobedient Bezrukova and given to border guards The end of 2024 looks like it will be a year full of arms scandals. No sooner had we recovered from the news that the 120th mine had been sent to the frontline that did not explode, which was the fault of journalists, the military, the rain, but not the manufacturer, than another betrayal was delivered. 03.12.24 14:47 15 455 27

From Reznikov’s jackets to Umierov’s poncho: whether Defense Ministry will get rid of unscrupulous suppliers Last summer, the country was rocked by a scandal over Turkish jackets purchased by the Defense Ministry that turned out to be unsuitable for winter wear. 29.11.24 20:45 13 980 39

Budget issues of Vadym Stolar Last week, the Kyiv District Court made a rather unexpected decision. Not in terms of justice, but because of the defendants involved. The court refused to take the side of the Restin company, which is shadowed by Viktor Medvedchuk and Vadym Stolar, and did not force the Ministry of Culture to give permission to build a Museum of Outstanding Ukrainians in the historic zone. 28.11.24 23:00 5 739 2

Insurmountable corruption risks of Ministry of Defense. Why new scandals are only matter of time We can punish someone for a crime, or we can prevent that crime from happening. The first is more attractive from the point of view of spectacle, but in fact, after the hundred and third time, it causes only irritation. And the emotional effect is much lower. But the losses remain. 15.11.24 18:51 9 544 21

Valuable personnel of Ministry of Defence: Who and how helped Hrynkevychs make billions on army A year ago, the country learned about the Hrynkevych family, which earned millions of dollars on contracts from the Ministry of Defence but never delivered the jackets and shirts. At the time of Hrynkevych’s detention, the biggest question was who had introduced him to the MoD tenders. This question remains unanswered to this day. 13.11.24 15:17 34 430 23