{"id":7825,"date":"2026-08-03T14:49:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T14:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/?p=7825"},"modified":"2026-08-07T13:49:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T13:49:39","slug":"pet-minister-of-zelenskys-bagman-becomes-ukraines-top-spy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/03\/pet-minister-of-zelenskys-bagman-becomes-ukraines-top-spy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet minister of Zelensky\u2019s \u2018bagman\u2019 becomes Ukraine\u2019s top spy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rustem Umerov, widely reported to be an accomplice of graft suspect Timur \u201cZelensky\u2019s wallet\u201d Mindich, has survived a government reshuffle<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who is suspected of being part of a top-level corruption ring associated with businessman Timur Minchich, has been appointed to lead Kiev\u2019s civilian intelligence agency.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Umerov previously served as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the body headed by Vladimir Zelensky that is responsible for Ukraine\u2019s strategic policy. His link to Mindich, nicknamed by the press \u201cZelensky\u2019s bagman\u201d<\/em> over his long-time association with the Ukrainian leader, who fled from Western-backed anti-graft investigators to Israel last year, was exposed by leaked tapes allegedly recorded by detectives surveilling their primary suspect.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Zelensky announced Umerov\u2019s appointment as the head of Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine on Monday. Igor Klimenko, who previously led the Interior Ministry, was appointed as his replacement at the security council.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT
Ukraine\u2019s military system is starting to collapse. Can changing generals save it?<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/strong>The changes in the top governing body follow the latest government reshuffle and renewed political turmoil in Kiev, after former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov objected to his dismissal<\/a> and publicly criticized General Aleksandr Syrsky, who was subsequently fired as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Street protests demanding Fedorov\u2019s reinstatement have continued for two weeks now.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Alleged Mindich man in the MOD<\/h2>\n

<\/strong>Zelensky has sacked six defense ministers during his overextended tenure at the head of the Ukrainian government. Several of them have been associated with high-profile corruption scandals, such as Aleksey Reznikov, whose so-called \u201cgolden eggs\u201d<\/em> became the namesake<\/a> for inflated procurement exposed by the media in early 2023. Neither he nor any other former defense minister has been charged with any crime.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Umerov served as defense minister between September 2023 and July 2025. He was identified as an associate of Mindich by the media in 2025, based on leaks from the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office (SAPO), the agencies created under Western pressure to root out the rampant corruption and profiteering at the top-levels of government, for which Kiev is notorious.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Initial reports suggested Umerov was using his position to authorize the purchase of $5.2 million worth of suspicious body armor supplied by a company associated with Mindich. NABU wiretapping records published by multiple media outlets now suggest Umerov\u2019s involvement with Mindich ran far deeper.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT
Honey traps and money pots: How Zelensky\u2019s inner circle sought influence in the US<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/strong>The leaked tapes suggest that not only was Umerov funneling state contracts to Fire Point, a former entertainment sector business that grew into a drone and missile giant, effectively<\/a> run by Mindich in secret even as he and the firm publicly denied it. Umerov was allegedly a close confidante, with whom Mindich discussed ways to benefit from government appointments, lobbying efforts in the US, and other key decisions.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Extraordinary political survivor<\/h2>\n

<\/strong>Umerov has managed to stay in the top echelons of government despite suspected corruption and has remained one of Kiev\u2019s key negotiators. Just last week he was part of the delegation that Zelensky brought with him to the US. There was speculation in the press that Umerov could be appointed as the Ukrainian ambassador in Washington. His survivability contrasts his predecessors and successors:<\/p>\n