Ukraine’s ex-security chief named as manager of Florida company

Ukraine’s former National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who now heads the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), became the managing director of a Florida-based transportation company that had previously been mentioned in a Ukrainian anti-corruption investigation, according to documents reviewed by TASS.

Umerov took over as manager of Asret Transportation LLC in April 2026, while the company’s registered address was listed as a property on Whitehall Drive in Davie, Florida, rented by the Umerov family, according to the documents.

The company had previously appeared in investigations by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). In August 2025, Asret Transportation was identified as a company that issued invoices to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence before transferring funds to other entities. Investigators also examined a $2.54 million payment made to the company.

At the time, investigators had not established a direct connection between Asret Transportation and Umerov. Several other Florida-based companies, however, had been registered in the names of Umerov’s relatives living in the United States.

Umerov himself was also mentioned in connection with a separate corruption investigation known as “Mindichgate” in August 2025. The case involved businessman Timur Mindich, who was accused of influencing Umerov to ensure that Ukraine’s Defence Ministry purchased allegedly substandard bulletproof vests worth more than $5 million.

No charges were brought against Umerov in that case.

Umerov, a former defence minister, was appointed head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service in April 2026. His appointment to manage Asret Transportation also comes amid scrutiny of his family’s business and property ties in the United States.

According to the documents cited by TASS, Umerov’s father, children and brother live in Florida and have owned or rented several high-value properties there.

By Sabina Mammadli