Kryvonos and Klymenko on pressure against experts, the new Midas episode, and whether the president features in the case
On May 12, 2026, NABU Director Semion Kryvonos and SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko answered journalists’ key questions about Operation Midas — including the latest development: suspicion notices served on former Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak and new notices for former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov and several others.
Klymenko opened by noting that the case is highly complex and multi-layered, and that to prevent information leaks, it was divided into several tracks handled by separate detective units that had no knowledge of each other’s findings — a deliberate response to the leak allegations NABU had faced in previous years. Klymenko himself served as the lead prosecutor in Operation Midas.
He also reported attempts by various individuals to pressure expert witnesses in the case, and called for the creation of an independent expert institution protected from such interference.
“The pressure on experts is a difficult issue. We have been communicating the need to establish an independent expert institution for quite some time to prevent such attempts,” Klymenko said. “Because even when we find expert institutions capable of processing this volume of material and conducting examinations, we don’t always manage to complete them — experts genuinely encounter unknown individuals who convey messages along the lines of: ‘Don’t think this will end with just the loss of your certificate.’”
This problem is long-standing and has been acknowledged at the highest political level — specifically in the joint communiqué of Taras Kachka and Marta Kos. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice has drafted a forensic expertise reform bill, which as of February 2026 had been submitted for approval.
Klymenko also cited difficulties arising from the State Financial Monitoring Service, which he said has been engaging in a work-to-rule slowdown — failing to respond to requests and providing documents of no investigative value. “They imitate activity but don’t actually engage with the investigation,” he added.
On Andrii Yermak, Klymenko stated that SAPO will seek pre-trial detention with a bail alternative of UAH 180 million.
More broadly, Kryvonos and Klymenko noted that the case extends beyond the energy sector to the defense sector, including investigations into drone and weapons procurement. NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov has been questioned in this context but currently holds witness status.
Semion Kryvonos stated that the President of Ukraine has not featured and does not feature in this case.
On Andrii Yermak, Klymenko stated that SAPO will seek pre-trial detention with a bail alternative of UAH 180 million.
