The Committee of the National Bank of Ukraine found that the chair of the supervisory board of Sense Bank, Nikolai Hladyshchenko, does not meet independence requirements. This was announced by NBU Governor Andrii Pyshnyi on Facebook, as noted by RBC-Ukraine citing him. The regulator is demanding that the bank's shareholder immediately terminate Hladyshchenko's mandate and elect a new member of the supervisory board. Importantly, this is about termination of mandate, not removal — these are legally distinct procedures, and the NBU insists on their strict observance.
Timeline of the review and the role of the 'Mindych tapes'
The NBU began reviewing Hladyshchenko's independence back in May 2026 following the release of the so-called 'Mindych tapes.' As part of the proceedings, the NBU twice approached the NABU and the SAP, requesting access to pre-trial investigation materials that could confirm or refute doubts about the independence of the supervisory board chair. Law enforcement agencies did not disclose the materials, citing the confidentiality of the pre-trial investigation, so the regulator continued its own review. At this stage, Hladyshchenko voluntarily recused himself from his mandate on his own initiative, although this did not formally terminate his status.
Operation 'Forrest Gump' and new grounds
The situation changed dramatically after the NABU released video materials from Operation 'Forrest Gump,' containing important facts about Sense Bank and its officials. The NBU Committee promptly assessed the new information within the already opened proceedings and concluded that sufficient grounds existed to find Hladyshchenko non-compliant with independence requirements. Thus, the regulator effectively completed the review with a negative outcome for the supervisory board chair and moved to demanding that the shareholder take organizational measures.
Collective unfitness of the supervisory board
Separately, the NBU opened administrative proceedings to assess the collective unfitness of the bank's entire supervisory board. According to the released materials, Hladyshchenko's self-recusal was only formal — in fact, he continued to influence the bank's activities. The NBU believes that the board's inability to react promptly to this casts doubt on its members' ability to exercise proper oversight. The final consequences for the entire supervisory board will be determined by the regulator based on the outcome of these proceedings. The NBU also stated that it will continue to investigate new facts and cooperate with law enforcement agencies, and work on other decisions regarding the situation is ongoing.
Contradictory data
There are discrepancies in the public domain regarding the actual status of Hladyshchenko. On the one hand, the supervisory board chair himself claims to have recused himself from his mandate, which could be interpreted as a voluntary withdrawal from the process. On the other hand, the NBU classifies this recusal as formal, noting that Hladyshchenko in fact continued to influence the bank, and demands the official termination of his mandate by the shareholder. A similar contradiction concerns other figures: the Operation 'Forrest Gump' tapes mention the head of the parliamentary finance committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, but the MP categorically denies his involvement and states his readiness to take a polygraph. Thus, the investigation's version and the statements of the persons involved currently do not match.
Political consequences and report to the Rada
The situation around Sense Bank continues to develop rapidly. According to the NABU and SAP, among the persons involved in the case are Iryna Mudra, deputy head of the Office of the President, who has already been dismissed from her position, MP Vadym Stolar, and former MP Maksym Nikityas. According to the investigation, members of the group laundered 150 million hryvnias in cash, routing funds through accounts of Sense Bank and controlled companies, to post bail for a person involved in the 'Midas' case — presumably former energy minister Herman Halushchenko. On the same day the NBU made its decision on Hladyshchenko, the Verkhovna Rada summoned NBU Governor Andrii Pyshnyi to report on the situation around Sense Bank — a decision supported by 155 MPs.
