NABU exposes scheme involving Sense Bank and the 150 million bail for Galushchenko (Updated)
NABU and SAPO have released details of Operation "Forest Gump," which is investigating the laundering of 150 million hryvnias in cash to be used for bail for a defendant in the "Midas" case. According to the investigation, the scheme involved the state-owned Sense Bank, accounts of controlled companies, and conversion centers. The group reportedly included a high-ranking official from the Office of the President, a former member of parliament, and bank executives.
In a new video from Operation "Forest Gump," NABU stated that it had exposed a group of individuals who organized and facilitated the laundering of funds obtained, according to the investigation, through criminal means.
The case involves 150 million hryvnias in cash that was to be funneled through a series of company accounts to enter legal circulation and be used to pay bail for one of the participants in the criminal organization in the "Midas" case.
The video does not name the suspects. However, the Bureau notes that the group included a deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, a former member of parliament, the CEO of a state-owned bank, the chairman of its supervisory board, and other individuals.
Earlier, lawmakers Yaroslav Zheleznyak and Oleksiy Honcharenko released fragments of investigative materials, which mention the then-deputy head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, and the state-owned Sense Bank in connection with this episode.
Investigation alleges control established over Sense Bank
According to NABU, the scheme involved the use of a state-owned bank and accounts of controlled companies. The Bureau claims that in early June 2026, the organizers gained effective control over Sense Bank, enabling them to use the financial institution for their own purposes.
This version aligns with a fragment of a procedural document previously released by Oleksiy Honcharenko. In it, a detective alleges that unidentified individuals from the Office of the President tasked Iryna Mudra with "taking control of JSC 'Sense Bank' for the Office of the President of Ukraine."
The document states that the bank is 100% state-owned and that the alleged purpose was to prevent other power structures from gaining control over the financial institution.
The detective also claims that the initiative was supported by the bank's supervisory board and management.
According to the investigation, unidentified individuals from the Office of the President then tasked Mudra with raising funds to pay bail for former Minister of Energy and Justice Herman Galushchenko.
Recordings discuss 150-200 million hryvnias in cash
In the new video, NABU released fragments of conversations in which speakers discuss finding companies through which large sums of money can be moved.
In one episode, there is talk of moving 200 million hryvnias through companies. Another speaker reports that 200 million in cash was brought "for Herman" and now they need to figure out how to funnel it through the financial system.
After the bail amount was reduced to 150 million hryvnias, participants discuss splitting the sum into three parts of 50 million each among several parties.
One speaker also explicitly mentions the need to deliver the funds to Sense Bank, after which a payment from company accounts would be made.
NABU claims that controlled companies and individuals, as well as top management of the state bank, were involved in the laundering, and that the payment mechanism was coordinated with bank management.
How financial monitoring was allegedly bypassed
One of the most detailed episodes in the video concerns the possible bypassing of Sense Bank's financial monitoring systems.
According to NABU, on June 16, a trusted person of a former MP met with the CEO of Sense Bank. Afterward, the trusted person relayed the substance of the agreements to the former MP.
On the recording, it is explained that after previous large bail postings, banks had tightened control over such transactions. At Sense Bank, the payment would have required manual approval by a bank employee.
The speakers acknowledge that under normal circumstances, financial monitoring would likely have blocked such a payment.
The recording then describes a possible way to bypass control: the system that automatically filters suspicious transactions was allegedly planned to be temporarily switched to maintenance mode.
During this window, the client would have submitted the payment, which would have been automatically processed without manual review.
In another fragment, a speaker relays the words of a bank executive: he allegedly was to "manually" create a "window" during which the money could be moved. The participants explicitly describe this mechanism as "bypassing financial monitoring."
The recordings also discuss the use of shell companies and documents intended to formally explain the origin and purpose of the payments.
What is known about Iryna Mudra's role
The NABU video includes a phone conversation that the Bureau labels as communication between a former MP and a deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. During the call, they discuss Sense Bank's financial monitoring, payment approval, and the proposed mechanism.
NABU does not name the official in the video and does not separately claim to have verified the voice.
However, in the materials released by the MPs, Iryna Mudra is mentioned in connection with arranging funds for bail and possible control over Sense Bank. Therefore, any assertion that her voice is on the recording currently should be presented only with reference to the investigation materials and the MPs' statements, not as a fact independently confirmed by NABU.
How 150 million hryvnias in cash were allegedly transferred
NABU also released its version of the cash flow. According to the Bureau, the first tranche of 50 million hryvnias was delivered to the office of the former MP.
Of this sum, 15 million was received by a trusted person, and 35 million was transferred to a conversion center that NABU calls a "laundry" in the video.
On the same day, according to the investigation, a second tranche of 10 million hryvnias was delivered.
The next large tranche was 70 million hryvnias. Of this, 20 million was left with a trusted person, and 50 million was sent to the conversion center.
The final 20 million hryvnias, according to NABU, followed the same scheme. Thus, the total cash amount was 150 million hryvnias.
How funds passed through Sense Bank
Earlier, Yaroslav Zheleznyak released additional details on the movement of non-cash funds, citing the NABU detective's motion.
According to this information, on June 22-23, LLC "Vostoktranslogistics" made four payments totaling 35 million hryvnias to the account of "Giran Construct" at Sense Bank. The payment purpose was stated as repayable interest-free financial assistance.
Another 48.86 million hryvnias were transferred by "Giran Construct" from its account at PUIB to its own account at Sense Bank. In total, the company accumulated 83.86 million hryvnias at Sense Bank.
On June 25, according to the investigation, 46 million hryvnias from "Giran Construct's" account at Sense Bank were transferred directly to the special account of the High Anti-Corruption Court as part of the bail.
Another 37.86 million hryvnias were sent to "Tetras Optima" in its account at OTP Bank. Combined with other funds received, "Tetras Optima" later transferred 54 million hryvnias to the HACC.
The next day, "Giran Construct," according to case materials, transferred 4 million hryvnias to "Pallet Service" as payment for construction materials. On the same day, "Pallet Service" transferred the entire 4 million to the HACC account.
Thus, directly from Sense Bank accounts, a total of 50 million hryvnias was sent to the HACC, according to released materials. Another 37.86 million hryvnias first passed through a Sense Bank account before being moved through another company. The total cash flow associated with Sense Bank thus amounted to at least 87.86 million hryvnias, although part of that amount was transit.
Searches and bank management
On August 19, "Economic Pravda" reported on searches related to Sense Bank, including at the premises of representatives of the bank's management.
In materials released by Zheleznyak, bank officials mentioned include CEO Oleksii Stupak, former Supervisory Board Chairman Mykola Hladyshenko, and Head of the Financial and Currency Monitoring Department Liudmyla Snihur.
According to the investigation, the former supervisory board chairman may have facilitated the involvement of "Tetras Optima" in the bail payment. The CEO is mentioned in connection with coordinating banking operations, and the head of financial monitoring appears in the context of processing payments and possible bypassing of control systems.
However, all these circumstances are currently allegations from the investigation. Being suspected or mentioned in criminal proceedings does not mean guilt has been proven.
NABU also claims attempts to expand influence over state bodies
The released recordings contain another line of investigation. NABU states that detectives recorded possible interference aimed at placing loyal individuals in anti-corruption and other state bodies.
The recordings show speakers discussing the upcoming vote for the Public Control Council at NABU and ways to mobilize votes for certain candidates.
The theme of creating one's own "talent pool" also appears. In the conversation, the Bureau of Economic Security, customs, and the Asset Recovery and Management Agency are mentioned.
Some speakers compare this work to the systematic talent pool building done by international partners. NABU presents these recordings as materials obtained during the investigation, but the full context of all conversations in the video has not been released.
Suspects face up to 12 years in prison
According to NABU, on June 29, 2026, one of the defendants in the "Midas" case was released from custody after bail of 150 million hryvnias was posted.
Kurs Ukraine earlier reported that the full bail for former Minister of Energy and Justice Herman Galushchenko was posted by four private companies.
On August 19, NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors notified members of the group of suspicion for allegedly organizing and facilitating the bail using proceeds of crime.
Their actions were classified under Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – laundering of property obtained through crime, committed by an organized group or on a particularly large scale.
Under the Criminal Code, this offense is punishable by eight to twelve years in prison, with disqualification from certain positions or activities for up to three years and confiscation of property.
The investigation is ongoing. The guilt of each suspect can only be established by a court conviction.
Sources: NABU, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Economic Pravda
