Sanctioned businessman Timur Mindich discussed with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, who at that time headed the Ministry of Defense, the possible sale to investors of part of the Fire Point company, which produces missiles and drones. This is evidenced by fragments of new “Mindich tapes”, which published by the Ukrainian Press. Journalists note that, despite the denial, Mindich may be one of the company’s beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Defense is the main customer for Fire Point, so Mindich complained to Umerov about the lack of funding. After that, they talked about selling 33% of the company for $600 million. Of this amount, $300 million was allegedly to be directed to the development of the company, and another $300 million to a “cashout”, that is, funds that would be received directly by shareholders.
The conversation between the businessman and the minister took place in Russian.
Mindich: “Yes, yes, there is a proposal. Of the 33%, they want to invest 60 in the company and 40% – well, we can agree on 50 – to make a cashout”.
Umerov: “How is that, explain it further? That’s what they estimated”.
M: “Yes, they want to buy at least, yes, at least 33% “.
U. “Mother’s house, well, it’s 600”.
In: “What will suit us?”
M: “Well, if they didn’t say what we said on Sunday, I think that in an hour we will be worth twice as much money.”
In October, the co-founder and chief designer of the Fire Point arms company Denys Shtilerman denied in an interview with ZN.UA that Timur Mindich is co-owner of Fire Point. According to him, the businessman became interested in the project after the tests at the test site and wanted to be included in the list of shareholders, but he was refused in the spring of 2024.
Stilerman later clarified that Mindich intended to purchase 50% of the company’s shares, but offered an insufficient amount, so his offer was considered non-competitive.
After the exposure of a large-scale corruption scheme at Energoatom, it turned out that Fire Point had booked one of the people involved in the tapes – the chief accountant of the “back office” for money laundering, Igor “Ryoshik” Fursenko. Thanks to this, he was not subject to mobilization and could travel abroad.
Shtilerman confirmed Fursenko’s employment and explained it by personal motives.
