CEO of Ukrposhta Smelyansky called the NBU's decision to dismiss him "settling personal scores"
Kyiv • UNN
Ihor Smelyansky considers the decision of NBU Governor Andriy Pyshny "settling personal scores" against him and called it "ill-considered".
CEO of JSC "Ukrposhta" Ihor Smilianskyi considers the decision of the National Bank of Ukraine regarding the demand for his dismissal as "settling personal scores" by NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyi, as well as an attempt to disrupt the creation of a postal bank. Smilianskyi reported this on Telegram, UNN reports.
Details
Every year, when "Ukrposhta" comes close to creating a postal bank, the NBU finds a way to prevent it. In the summer of 2025, when the Verkhovna Rada voted for the law on financial inclusion banks and we were ready to create a bank, a letter from Andriy Pyshnyi appeared about Ukrposhta's default. Where that default is - I think everyone already understands. Now, when only a few days remain before the law comes into force, and "Ukrposhta" has over UAH 2 billion in equity and is operating profitably, the NBU decided to take a more radical path - to dismiss Smilianskyi. As I understand it, in the hope that while the change of leadership lasts, the bank will be put on pause, and the next head, if he is not "docile" to Pyshnyi, may not even be approved
According to him, that is why yesterday the NBU made a decision that he does not meet the professional requirements for the head of a financial institution, and according to this decision, the company's shareholder - the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine - must remove me within 5 days and appoint another head.
What exactly professional requirements? I think everyone understands that I violated the main rule of the banking sector of Ukraine for 2023–2026: you must love and praise the head of the NBU Pyshnyi to the skies, otherwise you cannot be a banker or work in the financial sector
He said that currently the legal team of "Ukrposhta" will study the documents and make decisions on further actions, including regarding the involvement of external lawyers to protect the interests of the company and himself as the head.
The shareholder or the Supervisory Board under any circumstances have the right to appoint and dismiss the head - with or without the NBU decision. Of course, the change of leadership and its impact are also stipulated in our international agreements, including credit agreements for tens of millions of euros with the EBRD. So we will also communicate the situation with them accordingly. As well as with the IMF. "Ukrposhta" calmly continues to work without any changes while we work on the next steps. We have learned to recover quickly both after enemy strikes and after NBU strikes. They, by the way, are no less insidious than the strikes of the occupiers. Given the intolerance to criticism, the NBU in some places is very reminiscent of the neighboring enemy country
He emphasized that he does not consider the decision balanced, adding that he considers this decision "complete bullshit, and importantly, the use of office to settle personal scores."
Accordingly, I have decided for myself to "go after" both the executors of this decision and its customers - both in Ukrainian and, given my international career, in international courts for intentional damage to reputation. And I assure you: during the investigations, the executors will 100% name the person who gave this order. And I will do everything to make him fully answer for this decision. He has enough assets. So I will go after him for this decision, for corruption, and for unlawful actions
Also, Smilianskyi gave several examples of why he considers the NBU decision "settling scores":
Ukrgasbank, 2023. Miscoding of 5–7 billion hryvnias per month, a bunch of criminal cases - and the management of Ukrgasbank continues to work calmly. Even the director of the risk department, who worked during the miscoding, was made a member of the board. The bank's management has no questions; Sense Bank, 2026 - the same story. But here too, the NBU sees no problems; EasyPay and City24 receive a fine for violating financial monitoring of 135 million hryvnias, where billions in turnover are involved. But there are no sanctions against the managers. And I'm not saying they should be - I'm just comparing. That is, signing a letter on behalf of the Supervisory Board is a terrible crime for which you must be fired. But miscoding or cash-out schemes - "well, they went a little wild, it happens to everyone." Andriy Hryhorovych is very cautious in personnel decisions when it comes to not harming the "stability of the banking system." Or the stability of the "informal banking" system. Do we have decisions unexpected for the NBU? Of course, we do. But everything has its time. Someone will be happy today (I have many friends). Someone has already written a lot of messages of support, for which I am immensely grateful. I advise the former not to rush
Let us remind
The National Bank of Ukraine made a decision on the non-compliance of the CEO of JSC "Ukrposhta" Ihor Smilianskyi and demands his dismissal from the government.