Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Bureau Searches the National Bank, and Governor Pyshnyi Says He Is Staying
Investigators searched the central bank and an employee's home in a case tied to Sense Bank; the governor says it has nothing to do with his work, and the bank denied rumours he had resigned.
Thursday, October 22, 2026/2 min read
Ukraine's anti-corruption investigators turned up at the country's central bank on Wednesday. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said it was searching the National Bank of Ukraine and the home of one of its employees, and the Kyiv Independent reported, citing a law enforcement source, that premises of Governor Andriy Pyshnyi were also searched.
NABU said no one had been detained or served a notice of suspicion, and that it would give no further details to protect the pretrial investigation. It is not clear which case Pyshnyi is connected to, the Kyiv Independent said.
What is the Sense Bank case?
Ukrainska Pravda linked the searches to the Sense Bank investigation, where NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office are examining an alleged money-laundering scheme, according to its report. In June, state-owned Sense Bank handled a payment of 150 million hryvnias (about $3.4 million) that was allegedly funded with laundered money and posted as bail for former minister Herman Halushchenko, the Kyiv Independent said. Several people, including the bank's chief executive, were charged in August.
The central bank has been criticised for failing to stop that payment. A former Sense Bank supervisory board chair, Sevki Acuner, has said Pyshnyi recommended Vasyl Veselyi, described as a person of interest, for a role at the bank. Pyshnyi denies it.
Pyshnyi and the central bank have been under pressure over the case for months, and the governor has consistently rejected the suggestion that he steered anyone toward a post at the bank.
What has Pyshnyi said?
The governor confirmed the reports later on Wednesday and said he would remain in the job. He said the investigation is unrelated to the National Bank or his work, that the searches found nothing suggesting he or other officials had committed offences, and that he is ready to cooperate within the law. The central bank said it continues to operate as usual.
Media reports claimed Pyshnyi had submitted a resignation letter. The National Bank officially denied the rumours, UNN reported on Wednesday afternoon.
Why does this matter for Ukraine's finances?
The National Bank sets monetary policy and supervises the country's banks, so a search of its premises is unusual news. Ukrainska Pravda reported that in August there had been talk of President Zelenskyy being dissatisfied with Pyshnyi and discussing his dismissal. A search is not a charge, and the governor has not been accused of anything.
NABU announced the searches on its Telegram channel at 10:40 Kyiv time, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The National Bank confirmed them and said further explanations would follow once the procedural actions were complete. In a later post, Pyshnyi said he would not comment on speculation and that questions should be settled through legal channels.
What to watch is whether NABU names a suspect, whether the governor stays through the process, and whether the bureau says which case the searches belong to.
Published in The Outspoken Digest
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