Ukraine to Sell State-Owned Sense Bank to Fund Military, PM Says

What happened

Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi has directed the Finance Ministry to expedite the sale of the state-owned Sense Bank, according to his social media statement referenced by Ukrainska Pravda English. The prime minister emphasized the need for maximum transparency, competitiveness, and efficiency in the sale process.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Koretskyi added that the proceeds from the transaction will be allocated to meet the financing needs of Ukraine’s defense forces. Furthermore, coordination between the Finance Ministry and the National Bank of Ukraine is tasked with resolving existing issues at Sense Bank and ensuring transparent, high-quality corporate governance.

The announcement follows law enforcement actions on 19 August, when the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted searches at the offices of Sense Bank’s supervisory board and at the premises of its suspended chairman, Mykola Hladyshchenko. The investigations reportedly uncovered a criminal scheme involving laundering funds used to pay bail for former Energy and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko. Sense Bank stated it is cooperating with authorities but declined to provide further details citing pre-trial confidentiality.

Known from the source

• Ukraine's Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi has tasked the Ministry of Finance with selling Sense Bank.
• The Ministry of Finance is instructed to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and efficiency in the sale process.
• Proceeds from the sale are intended to finance the needs of Ukrainian defense forces.
• The Ministry of Finance will work with the National Bank to address problems at Sense Bank and ensure good corporate governance.
• On 19 August, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted searches at Sense Bank's supervisory board office and at suspended chairman Mykola Hladyshchenko's premises.

What remains unclear

Later on 19 August, the Cabinet of Ministers suspended Hladyshchenko from his role as chairman of Sense Bank’s supervisory board. This step appears to be part of wider efforts to strengthen governance at the bank ahead of its planned sale. The exact timeline and potential buyers have not been disclosed in the current source material.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. The precise timing and structure of the Sense Bank sale process. Any official comments from the Ministry of Finance or National Bank confirming readiness and buyer interest. Further details on the anti-corruption investigation outcomes and any legal proceedings linked to the laundering scheme.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Ukrainska Pravda English. Open the source.