Pyshny denied that he had influenced personnel decisions at Sens Bank
Andriy Pyshnyy, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, denied that he had recommended businessman Vasyl Veselyi for a position at “Sens Bank” or influenced the supervisory board’s personnel decisions. At the same time, he stated his readiness to personally answer questions from the Verkhovna Rada’s Temporary Investigative Commission.
Pyshnyy made these remarks in response to testimony from Shevki Adzuner, the former chairman of Sens Bank’s supervisory board, who described the circumstances of his acquaintance with Veselyi during a meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission.
“I categorically deny having provided any recommendations on personnel matters to the Supervisory Board of ‘SENS Bank,’” Pyshny emphasized.
According to him, he did not recommend appointing Vesely as an advisor to the supervisory board, did not introduce him to the board members, and did not issue any instructions regarding this or other personnel decisions.
“Claims to the contrary are untrue,” the NBU governor stated.
At the same time, Pyshnyy confirmed that he is acquainted with Vasyl Veselyi. He noted that he had already answered a direct question from the TSC chair on this matter.
The head of the National Bank urged members of the parliamentary commission to ask him questions directly, rather than drawing conclusions based on the testimony of other participants in the hearings.
“If the TSC has questions for me, they should be directed to me directly, rather than being based on interpretations of other people’s testimony,” Pyshnyy said.
He also stated his readiness to attend a TSK meeting, answer all questions, and provide the necessary explanations within the scope of his authority.
During the TSK meeting, Shevki Adzuner, the former chairman of the supervisory board of “SENS Bank,” spoke about how he met Vasyl Veselyi.
According to him, he met the businessman following discussions with representatives of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), during which the need to improve communication between the bank, the government, and other stakeholders was discussed.
Ajuner claimed that it was Andriy Pyshnyy who personally introduced him to Veselyi.
According to the former chairman of the supervisory board, even before the official interview process began, he was allegedly told that Vesely could serve as the bank’s liaison with stakeholders.
After Vesely was appointed manager of communications with government authorities, as Adjuner claimed, “Sense Bank” experienced fewer problems in its interactions with the National Bank.
The situation surrounding the state-owned “Sens Bank” is also being examined in the context of the NABU and SAPO investigation into the “Forest Gump” case.
Previously, law enforcement officials announced the exposure of a criminal group which, according to the investigation, organized the laundering of funds to post bail for former Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko.
The state-owned “Sens Bank” was mentioned in the case files of this criminal proceeding.
Subsequently, the bank officials mentioned in the NABU case files were suspended from their duties and denied access to management positions.
Separately, law enforcement officials had previously conducted searches at Vasyl Vesely’s residence.
According to media reports, the businessman allegedly appears in the so-called “Mindich tapes.”
At the same time, the mere fact that searches were conducted, that a person was mentioned in media reports, or that their last name appears in criminal case files does not constitute proof of a crime. Only the competent authorities and the court can make a final assessment of such circumstances.
This was his response to the testimony of the bank’s former supervisory board chairman, Shevki Adzuner, during a session of the Verkhovna Rada’s Temporary Investigative Commission.
The candidacy of businessman Vasyl Vesely for a position at “Sense Bank” was recommended by Andriy Pyshny, head of the National Bank of Ukraine. According to Shevki Adzuner, Pyshny personally introduced him to Vesely even before the interview process began.
An interim manager has been appointed at Sens Bank.
The High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a preventive measure on Oleksiy Stupak, chairman of the board of “SENS Bank,” in the form of bail in the amount of 15 million hryvnias, which must be paid within five days. The prosecutor’s office had demanded 150 million hryvnias.
Searches were also conducted at Sens Bank as part of a special anti-corruption operation by NABU and the SAPO.
Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel discussion at the executive level at the 17th Middle East Banking Innovation Summit (MEBIS 2026), which will take place on September 16–17 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.
