Intercepted communications reviewed by U.S. officials describe an alleged plan involving aid funds, though no confirmed investigation was completed at the time.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Newly declassified intelligence materials describe intercepted communications from 2022 in which Ukrainian officials allegedly discussed a plan to redirect U.S. taxpayer funds toward political purposes in the United States, according to reporting by Just the News.
The intelligence summary, derived from U.S. surveillance intercepts, outlines allegations that funds allocated for infrastructure and clean energy projects in Ukraine could have been used as a conduit to transfer money back to the United States. The report indicates the discussions referenced potential benefits to then-President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
Officials said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently became aware of the intercepts and has directed U.S. Agency for International Development personnel to review records to determine whether any elements of the alleged plan were implemented and whether further action, including a criminal referral to the FBI, may be warranted.
According to officials familiar with the review, there is no indication the allegations were fully investigated during the Biden administration. The communications also are not believed to be linked to Russian disinformation efforts, according to those who have examined the materials.
The declassified summary describes a reported plan involving both Ukrainian government figures and unspecified U.S. personnel, with USAID programs in Kyiv cited as a potential mechanism. “The Ukrainian Government and unspecified U.S. Government personnel, through USAID in Kyiv, reportedly developed a plan that would provide hundreds of millions of US taxpayer dollars to fund an infrastructure project for Ukraine that would be used as a cover to send approximately 90% of funds allocated to the DNC to fund Joe Biden’s reelection campaign,” the document states.
The summary further alleges that the proposed arrangement involved structuring contracts in ways that would make the flow of funds difficult to track. “The plan included details of how subcontractors would be funded through U.S. companies so that how the funds were spent and allocated would be difficult to track,” the document states, adding that contracts would be designed to limit verification and oversight.
Officials reviewing the intelligence said references were made to two American subcontractors that could have received funds as part of the process, though their identities remain classified and were redacted in the declassified version of the report.
The emergence of the intercepts comes as Ukraine’s leadership continues to engage in diplomatic efforts related to the ongoing conflict with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently worked with U.S. representatives on potential frameworks aimed at resolving the war that began in 2022.
At the same time, Ukrainian officials have faced renewed scrutiny over corruption allegations. In late November, investigative actions were carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office involving Andriy Yermak, then head of the Office of the President. In a statement on X, the agency said “investigative actions (searches)” were underway as part of an ongoing case, while prosecutors issued a similar statement.
Earlier that month, authorities announced that a “high-level criminal organization operating in [the] energy sector” had been uncovered as part of Operation Midas. Yermak later stated that investigators encountered “no obstacles” during the search and that he was cooperating fully.
Zelenskyy subsequently confirmed that Yermak had submitted his resignation, stating in a national address that the move was intended to eliminate “any rumors and speculation” and strengthen internal stability during wartime.
The developments follow years of scrutiny involving Ukrainian energy company Burisma and its ties to members of the Biden family. Hunter Biden, who served on Burisma’s board beginning in 2014, has previously acknowledged that his family name played a role in his appointment. In a 2019 interview, he said he discussed the role once with his father, recalling the conversation: “I hope you know what you are doing,” to which he responded, “I do.”
Hunter Biden later acknowledged in another interview that his last name likely influenced the opportunity, stating, “Probably not, in retrospect.”
Congressional Republicans have also examined the matter. A 2020 joint report by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson detailed interactions involving Hunter Biden and business associate Devon Archer, noting that both joined Burisma’s board in 2014 and received compensation over subsequent years.
Grassley later released an FBI document in 2023, referred to as an FD-1023, which summarized allegations from a confidential human source regarding potential payments involving Burisma owner Mykola Zlochevsky. The source claimed that payments had been made to secure influence, though those claims were later challenged.
In February 2024, the Justice Department charged the source, Alexander Smirnov, with making false statements and fabricating records. Smirnov later pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts, including creating false records and tax-related offenses.
Separately, President Joe Biden issued a broad pardon to his son in December 2024 covering certain offenses over a defined period, including those described as “offenses against the United States.”
The Justice Department under the Trump administration has indicated it may revisit aspects of earlier prosecutions. In April 2025, prosecutors told a federal court they intended to review the legal theory underlying Smirnov’s conviction.
Officials reviewing the newly declassified intelligence emphasized that the intercepts describe alleged discussions and do not establish that any plan was executed. The matter remains under review as agencies assess whether further investigative steps are warranted.
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