Anti-Corruption Case "Forrest Gump" Reaches Ukraine's Intelligence Chief Budanov

Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) released audio recordings on Thursday obtained during its investigation into Iryna Mudrova, who the agency says is suspected of money laundering and attempts to illegally seize control of commercial companies. Among the figures mentioned in the recordings is a man whose first name and patronymic match those of Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

According to the Kyiv Post, one of the recordings features a voice reportedly belonging to Budanov himself. The investigation indicates that businessman Tymur Mindich — described as President Volodymyr Zelensky's "wallet" and one of the central figures in a corruption scheme in Ukraine's energy sector — allegedly planned to hand Budanov laundered funds intended to post bail for suspects in the case.

The Bank's Role and the "Energoatom" Connection

The published materials suggest Mindich asked Budanov to take control of financial flows through Sense Bank. According to investigators, the bank's management helped launder funds earmarked for bail payments linked to figures in the corruption scandal — including one surrounding the state company "Energoatom" and former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.

The released recordings capture a conversation that took place on June 9 this year between Mudrova, former MP Maksym Mykytas, and Budanov, in which they discussed handing over control of Sense Bank's financial flows.

"I'm with Kyrylo Oleksiyovych," Mudrova says on the recording, adding that she has put the call on speaker. A voice that investigators link to Budanov can be heard responding: "Thank you, good afternoon" — "Thank you very much."

Source: novinky.cz