--- title: "Zelensky Rejects Initiative to Replace NBU Head: \"Pyshny Is the Head of the National Bank\"" description: "Zelensky stated that he had not initiated the replacement of NBU head Andriy Pyshny, calling the bank an independent institution, but acknowledged sharp disagreements with the Ministry of Finance against the backdrop of the scandal around Sense Bank." date: 2026-08-23T21:34:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-rejects-initiative-to-replace-nbu-head-pyshny tags: [ukraine, national-bank-of-ukraine, andriy-pyshnyy, volodymyr-zelensky, sense-bank, finance] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelensky Rejects Initiative to Replace NBU Head: "Pyshny Is the Head of the National Bank" ![Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Oleksandr Pyshnyy: Ukrainian president rejects change of NBU head, confirming Pyshnyy remains head of the National Bank](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/24/zelenskyi-otverz-initiativu-po-smene-glavy-nbu/zelenskyi-otverz-initiativu-po-smene-glavy-nbu-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Zelensky stated that he had not initiated any steps to replace NBU head Andriy Pyshny and called the NBU an independent institution. - The president acknowledged sharp disagreements between the positions of the NBU and the Ministry of Finance and refused to act as a mediator against the backdrop of information campaigns. - The statements were made after the publication of the NABU/SAP investigation, Pyshny's summons to the Rada over the Sense Bank case, and the task given to the Ministry of Finance to accelerate the sale of the bank. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly commented on rumors circulating in the media about a possible replacement of the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshny. Addressing journalists, the head of state stated outright that he had not taken any steps to dismiss or remove the NBU's head. "I have not initiated any steps to replace him. This is an independent institution. Pyshny is the head of the National Bank," Zelensky emphasized, thereby publicly confirming that the question of changing the regulator's leadership is not being considered by him personally as a tool of political pressure. ### Disagreements Between the NBU and the Ministry of Finance At the same time, the president did not deny the existence of sharp contradictions surrounding the regulator's activities. According to him, the head of the NBU has difficult relations with both the government and members of parliament, and this is not only about the current cabinet, but about systemic disagreements between the positions of the National Bank and government structures. "Because the position of the National Bank under him and the position of the Ministry of Finance are very different on many issues," Zelensky noted, effectively acknowledging that the institutional conflict between the NBU and the Ministry of Finance is of a persistent nature and goes beyond the current political conjuncture. ### Refusal to Play the Role of Mediator Zelensky also said that in recent years, in situations where complex disputes arose between state institutions, he had been asked to act as an arbiter, and he had performed this function. However, this time the president stated that he would not participate in facilitating dialogue between the conflicting structures. According to him, this position is due to the emergence of information campaigns that, in his view, are aimed at influencing the situation. "But now, when various information campaigns have already begun that want to influence something, I no longer participate in setting up dialogue between these institutions," the head of state declared, urging the parties to focus on the stability of the state rather than on information pretexts. ### Context: the NABU/SAP Investigation and the Situation Around Sense Bank Zelensky's comment came against the backdrop of high-profile events of recent days. On August 19, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office published the materials of an investigation into the exposure of a criminal organization to which, according to the investigation, officials of the President's Office, as well as current and former members of parliament, are involved. Following the publication of this investigation, the Verkhovna Rada summoned the head of the NBU, Andriy Pyshny, to report on the situation around the state-owned Sense Bank. In parallel, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine was given a clear task to accelerate the process of selling the nationalized Sense Bank, with all proceeds, according to the stated intentions, to be directed to meeting the needs of the Defense Forces. ### Contradictory Data However, in assessments of the situation, a divergence in emphasis can be traced. On the one hand, Zelensky himself in direct statements categorically denies that he initiated any steps to replace Pyshny and emphasizes the independence of the NBU as an institution. On the other hand, according to Bloomberg, which is cited by the Ukrainian press, the wording is different — that the president has "grievances" against the head of the NBU. Thus, one version records the president's public refusal to intervene in the personnel issue, while the other interprets his remarks about the "different positions" of the NBU and the Ministry of Finance as a sign of hidden grievances. The difference between these two interpretations — between the formal denial of the initiative and the acknowledgment of an institutional conflict — remains open and has not been resolved by either side. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Zelensky Comments on Rumors About a Possible Replacement of the NBU Head](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-prokomentuvav-chutki-mozhlivu-zaminu-1787520697.html) - Фиксирует прямые заявления Зеленского об отсутствии инициативы по замене Пышного и о разногласиях НБУ с Минфином. - [Scandal Involving a State Bank: Zelensky Comments on the Possible Dismissal of the NBU Head ...](https://delo.ua/ru/news/skandal-s-gosudarstvennym-bankom-zelenskii-prokommentiroval-vozmoznoe-uvolnenie-glavy-nbu-pysnogo-471210/) - Подтверждает контекст скандала вокруг Sense Bank и заявления президента по кадровому вопросу. - [Zelensky Has Grievances Against the NBU Head - Bloomberg](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4902694-zelenskyi-ymeet-pretenzyy-k-hlave-nbu-Bloomberg) - Передаёт альтернативную трактовку (Bloomberg) о «претензиях» президента к главе НБУ, что создаёт расхождение в акцентах с прямым отрицанием инициативы — отражено в блоке «Противоречивые данные». ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Did Zelensky initiate the replacement of NBU head Andriy Pyshny? **A:** No. According to Zelensky himself, he had not taken any steps to replace Pyshny and called the National Bank an independent institution, noting that Pyshny remains its head. ### Q: What is the essence of the conflict between the NBU and the government? **A:** Zelensky pointed out that the head of the NBU has difficult relations with the government and members of parliament, and that the positions of the National Bank and the Ministry of Finance are "very different on many issues." ### Q: Why did Zelensky refuse to mediate the dispute between the institutions? **A:** The president explained this by the start of information campaigns that, in his opinion, are trying to influence the situation, and urged the parties to focus on the stability of the state. ### Q: What context is associated with the Sense Bank case? **A:** On August 19, NABU and SAP published materials on a criminal organization involving officials of the President's Office and members of parliament; after this, the Rada summoned Pyshny to report on Sense Bank, and the Ministry of Finance was given the task to accelerate the sale of the bank with the proceeds directed to the needs of the Defense Forces.