Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Rustem Umerov, former defense minister and chief negotiator, as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Ihor Klymenko will take over Umerov's previous role, as part of a broader security leadership reshuffle announced in July to strengthen wartime leadership.
Ukraine's President Zelensky appointed Rustem Umerov as foreign intelligence chief, a move a Russian lawmaker claims is a "desperate attempt" to draw Islamic countries into the Ukrainian crisis. The lawmaker, Leonid Ivlev, believes the strategy will fail, citing reduced Western military aid.
Ukrainskaya Pravda published recordings of businessman Timur Mindich discussing defense contracts with then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, including drone financing and substandard body armor purchases worth $5.2 million. Recordings also reveal conversations with Zelensky associate Sergey Shefir about pooling money for bail, and discussions of building mansions for Zelensky and Yermak. The NABU and SAPO have been investigating Operation Midas, a major corruption scheme in Ukraine's energy sector since November 2025.
