By James Bradley and Flor Blanco
OCTOBER 1, 2024—With the upcoming elections and President Zelenskyy’s urgent plea to the United Nations for increased support in the ongoing war, the looming threat of World War III is impossible to ignore. Just last Wednesday, the Russian President issued a chilling warning, outlining the conditions under which they would consider nuclear options. The Harris-Biden administration is now under fire for allegedly violating these conditions. During Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the U.S., the Biden-Harris administration offered to release the remaining U.S. funding promised to Ukraine before Biden’s term ends. How did we find ourselves at this critical juncture, teetering on the edge of global conflict? Let’s delve deep into the heart of the matter and unravel the events that have brought us to the brink of catastrophe.
Why is Washington betting on a double-dealing politician?
JUNE 2023—KIEV, UKRAINE. A high-profile trial of treason is underway. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s top security officers are accused of executing a planned surrender of a Ukrainian-controlled sector in Crimea to Russia in 2022, the dawn of the Ukraine-Russian conflict. The trial entrapped the officer who gave the order, Oleg Kulinich, his two superiors, Ivan Bakanov and a Ukrainian oligarch, Volodymyr Sivkovych. Both Bakanov and Sivkovych were part of the inner circle of those pivotal to the rise of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president. Was Zelenskyy, actor-turned novice politician, aware of the pro-Russian ties of Bakanov and Sivkoyvch, and was this trial an example of Zelenskyy’s attempt to cut those ties?
As Republicans question the Pentagon’s strategy for Ukraine and its plans to end this war, the news reports about Zelenskyy’s influence to spin U.S. policy toward Ukraine are becoming ever more concerning. In a book on the new cold war by prominent American journalist David Sanger, Joe Biden admitted that he had a feeling that Zelenskyy was trying to draw America into a military conflict with Russia. So, was Zelenskyy aware of Russian influence in his cabinet? The answer may give us insight into Zelenskyy’s character and loyalties.
To answer the question, we must go backward in time, starting with the details of the trial itself and then looking at Zelensky’s rise to power. In the middle of this web are six key players, Oleg Kulinich, Ivan Bakanov and Volodymyr Sivkovych. Reuben Cohen, Michael Gordon, and Zelenskyy himself.
The Trial of Oleg Kulinich and the Coverup of Ivan Bakanov’s Involvement
Kulinich led the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) for Crimea. He was charged with treason after allegedly surrendering Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions to the Russian army in the spring of 2022. Above Kulinich was Bakanov. According to the Washington Post, Bakanov was appointed head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) by his childhood friend and business partner Zelenskyy. Local Ukrainian TV channel “Hromadske,” found this high-profile trial was closed to the public because of Bakanov’s involvement and his ties to the president.
Based on court documents from Kulinich’s lawyers, Bakanov ordered the evacuation of military units and law enforcement agencies from the Kherson region. Kulinich was only the executor of his order. The prosecution stated that Bakanov made an unauthorized trip from his office of the SBU Crimean branch in Kherson, which was surrendered to Russia, and then headed to Kiev.
While Kulinich blamed Bakanov for giving the order to surrender, local media in Ukraine highlighted the limited exposure to Bakanov’s side of the story. Investigative reporter Inna Popovich, from “Hromadske,” found that government officials did not even talk to Bakanov about the allegations. The People’s Deputy of Ukraine and a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, Serhiy Rakhmanin, hinted at the true interest of the Ukrainian authorities. “How easy would it be to call Ivan Gennadievich Bakanov, who, as I know, is on the territory of Ukraine, and question him about the order to Kulinich to return to Kiev? If you or I did that we would not be going along with the game but would be operating with facts. For some reason it was not done. I hope that it will be done. Why was it not done? This is not a question for me or you to answer.”
In a 2023 article published by Politico, wire-tapings were obtained recording conversations between Kulinich and Sivkovych, an experienced politician and with ties to pro-Russian oligarchs and ties to Zelenskyy. Sivkovych was said to have left Ukraine for Russia in 2014 per Politico. Both Ukrainian and US state sanctions were placed against the Sivkovych, who was claimed to have infiltrated the SBU. It was later determined that instructions to Kulinich came from both Ivan Bakanov and Sivkovych, who also supervised Bakanov; and the two gave the order at the pleasure of the President Zelenskyy.
The Stench of a Plot: The Firing of Zelenskyy’s Original Cabinet
Prior to being pegged for state treason, Ivan Bakanov was part of a group of showbiz friends who Zelenskyy appointed in various positions in his original cabinet, according to a recent article in the “Washington Post.” Bakanov was given the top security role for Ukraine (SBU). Four other friends were given different cabinet roles. All were fired in the summer of 2022, with the exception of Andriy Yermak, who was given the role of chief of staff. Yermak is now considered to be one of the most influential political advisors to the president. It was Yermak who ordered the purge of staff that led to the dismissal of Bakanov from his post.
Sivkovych and Zelenskyy’s Interactions with US Interests
Volodymyr Sivkovych supported Zelenskyy and managed his international interactions with US interests during Zelenskyy’s 2019 election campaign and at the start of his administration. Sivkovych’s political history included a number of key positions in the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych, which he held prior to the 2014 revolution, including his role as Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine. As mentioned earlier, it was noted that Sivkovych fled Ukraine for Russia in 2014. Yet, articles and a series of audio recordings indicate a clear tie between Sivkovych and Zelenskyy’s designated US agent, US attorney Marcus Cohen (see Figure 1).
In April 2019, Ivan Bakanov visited the US as a delegate of Zelenskyy and worked with a US lobbying firm called Signal, which was brokered through Cohen. Among the many US officials visited by Bakanov, Alander Vindamin was one of them (see Figure 2). Sivkovych organized Bakanov’s trip. Sivkovych joined Bakanov on his trip to the US and held meetings with American officials during the visit. Marcus Cohen and Micheal Gordon, a Russian American born in the USSR and speaks Russian, helped to coordinate the meetings on the US side.
To date, Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to deny that he used these lobbying services. Zelenskyy commented on the information about Cohen’s activities saying, “I did not ask anyone for anything, no one offered me anything, I did not pay anyone, I did not take anything from anyone. I am my own lobbyist.” However, Zelenskyy’s lie continues despite facts of the interactions recorded in FARA documents, which have Zelenskyy’s own signature on them.
Sivkovych’s collaborations with Cohen are mentioned in by political scientist, Taras Kuzio in his article published in “The New Eastern Europe.”. Kuzio points to Gordon’s former activities in Ukraine and Russia since the Yanukovych era to suggest a Russian influence with Zelenskyy’s administration. Apparently, Kuzio has seen bank transfers from offshore LLCs to Attorney Cohen’s trust fund account at Wells Fargo Bank (see Figures 3-4).
Kuzio also mentions that Sivkovych collaborated with Cohen, who paid for lobbying services for Zelenskyy. Kulinich admitted to journalists that Sivkovych was involved in financing Zelenskyy’s US lobbying efforts.
Figure 1: Copy of FARA Documents Recording US Lobbying Agreement with Zelenskyy
Figure 2: Copy of Signal Report of Bakanov’s trip to US recording Bakanov’s visit with Alexander Vindman
English Translation:
AlexanderS. Vindman (Alexander S. Vindman) Director for Eastern Europe and Russia, National Security Council
A captain in the US Army who speaks Ukrainian and Russian fluently
The Trail of Money
Documents obtained confirm that Zelenskyy received money from Sivkovych. Before paying for lobbying services for the president of Ukraine, Marcus Cohen received a total of $288,500 (and spent only about $130,000 according to FARA reports) from dubious offshore companies. Cohen’s firm Law Offices of Marcus R. Cohen received a $100,000 payment from Singbizconsult, a Singapore-registered law firm (see Figure 3). The second payment of $188,500 was received from the firm United Capital Management Inc (see Figure 4).
Figure 3: Contract Singbizconsult with Cohen, details, payment records
Figure 4: Contract United Capital Management Inc with Cohen, details, payment records
Other payments were made in the sum of $75,250 from the accounts of the Czech firm OilProm, which has ties to Russia. These payments were made to the accounts of the security firm Global Analytica, which was also involved in Zelenskyy’s lobbying activities. However, Cohen apparently did not register these payments under FARA on his end. (See Figures 5 & 6)
Note: In April 2019, Global Analytica bought Sociology from New Image Marketing Group and registered the transaction under FARA through the firm’s Global Management Association.
Figure 5: Signed Contract April 2019
Figure 6: Document 2: OilProm – Global Management Association ($74,450)
These offshore and seemingly covert payments explain well why Zelenskyy disavowed Cohen’s US lobbying. Incidentally, the same firm, Singbizconsult, made a $210,500 payment to Global Analytica. (See Figures 7-11)
Figure 7: Contract with Global Analytica
Figure 8: Payment to Global Analytica
Figure 9:Payment OilProm ($75,250)
Figure 10: Payment Singbizconsult for Global Analytica ($50,000+)
Figure 11: Payment Scheme
Covering Up the Money Trail
The offshore and shadow nature of the payments also explains why after disassociating from Cohen’s US lobby firm, that Zelenskyy fired Ivan Bakanov, and then hid Bakanov from the press. Questions about these manipulations from both US and Russian interests, as well as an investigation into Kulinich’s actions would have triggered an investigation in which Zelenskyy himself could have been implicated as having potential Russian alliances.
US Lobby’s Measures to Protect Zelenskyy
Cohen and Michael Gordon also warned Sivkovych about threats to Zelenskyy. According to some reports, Petro Poroshenko was planning to eliminate Zelenskyy. He suggested to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak to use Zelenskyy’s weakness for drugs and slip a poisonous substance into the next portion of cocaine. Hrytsak did not like the idea and looked for any pretext to refuse to fulfill this plan.
When Sivkovych received word of the plan, he quickly hired a group of Israelis from a private security company affiliated with the Mossad to protect Zelenskyy. , Cohen and Gordon helped Sivkovych organize the contract for Zelenskyy’s protection. In the spring of 2019, a group of specialists headed by civilian Israeli Anabel David arrived in Kiev. This team had already worked in Ukraine during the European Football Championship in 2012 and was immediately hired by the SBU. Additionally, David Kutcher who was the head of the firm Global Analytica that provided security services, was also hired.
Note: UK born Nathan Rajswing is the head of Global Group, a conglomerate of firms that includes Global Analytica (now called GA Political).
Sivkovych’s calculation turned out to be correct. A frightened Poroshenko stopped insisting that SBU head Vasyl Hrytsak explore the possibility of eliminating Zelenskyy.
Sivkovych’s discussion with Cohen and Gordon about threats to Zelenskyy, as well as various nuances of the organization of the Israelis’ trip are recorded on audio recordings.
Audio Recording Transcripts 1
First fragment of records (File fragment: threats to Zelenskyy). Sivkovych discusses security threats against Zelenskyy and his team with Cohen’s representative, lawyer Michael Gordon who conducted all communication between Cohen and Sivkovych. In addition, there is a video recording of the conversation with Marcus Cohen and Michael Gordon, where both are clearly visible.
Figure 5: Photo showing Marcus Cohen on the Left and Michael Gordon on the Right
References in Audio Transcript
- Baldies=Global Analytica employees David Kutcher and Nathan (Olivier-Xavier) Rajswing.
- Heavy=Vladimir Zelensky.
- Vanya=Ivan Bakanov
Michael Gordon: I understand you completely. The moment the baldies are at Vanya’s – Vanya is fully amplified, and they’re all shaking and quivering there. Including the “Heavy”.
Vladimir Sivkovych: I understand, and there is something to be shaken about. There is information there, I’m afraid to scare them, to be honest. Oleg knows something there, but I forbade even to tell them, because, God forbid, they will be scared, you know?
Michael Gordon: The “baldies” told us the same thing.
Vladimir Sivkovych: Yeah.
Michael Gordon: I don’t know what you know, but we were told by the “baldies” that they were told upstairs that yes. That we should.
Vladimir Sivkovych: I understand, I know something and that’s why you… I just never tell you anything, Michael. But we are now trying to level some things on our own, some things. Because the intelligence services are starting to get a little bit loose. They’re slowly starting to falter.
Audio Recording Transcripts 2
Second fragment of recordings (File fragment: Zelensky’s security problems) showing Vladimir Sivkovych discussing with Michael Gordon the “security holes” in Zelensky’s team, including his team’s campaign headquarters:
References in Audio Transcript
- Baldies=Global Analytica employees David Kutcher and Nathan (Olivier-Xavier) Rajswing.
- Green=Vladimir Zelensky.
- Marcus=Marcus Cohen
- Vanya=Ivan Bakanov.
Vladimir Sivkovych: On the power part, who did you talk to? With Vanya or with Zeleny?
Michael Gordon: I’m on the power side. The fact that we, you know, we’ve been doing these things. We have a past life. What you’ve seen is horrific and it’s scary what they really have going on. The force part of what they have is gone. It’s just some guys who are pumped up, the wrong side. Who can be taken down, well, walk through the door, Marcus and I counted in less than a minute.
Vladimir Sivkovych: Uh-huh.
Michael Gordon: which, it takes a lot of work there. Here I agree with Oleg what’s the primary thing that we need to do after today’s conversation because you understand yourself that a lot of people there that they have, they’re in other jobs and that we need to give protection to Vanya.
Vladimir Sivkovych: I see.
Michael Gordon: because… because Vanya is the key to everything.
Audio Recording Transcripts 3
References in Audio Transcript
- Baldies=Global Analytica employees David Kutcher and Nathan (Olivier-Xavier) Rajswing.
The third fragment of recordings (File fragment: arrival of a security team from Israel), discussing the arrival of specialists from Israel. The fragment ends with Gordon’s concern about the security of Zelenskyy’s campaign headquarters. Gordon fears that the place, if threatened, could be destroyed “in a minute”.
Michael Gordon: but we, you and I haven’t had the opportunity to … let me explain to you what’s going on with the baldies. You know, our … flying on its own, three people, coming in on a plane with Netanyahu, right? You know, right?
Vladimir Sivkovych: yes, I know, I know.
Michael Gordon: The one that’s … in age, right? He was given the go-ahead, he was given the go-ahead and there, well brigadier general, well high-level general took over the whole thing, who we know. It’s a woman, by the way.
Vladimir Sivkovych: Yes.
Michael Gordon: She, she sends a very high-level person … Mossad, who is in charge of all the Jewish embassies around the world. Here is also in charge of … locations inside Israel and other places.
Vladimir Sivkovych: well, that’s from Nativa, I guess, not Mossad?
Michael Gordon: well, it is. That’s …
Vladimir Sivkovych: I think it’s the Nativ.
Michael Gordon: yeah, it’s very… Well he’s there and there.
Vladimir Sivkovych: I see.
Michael Gordon: His, his name is (Eitmar Sapir?). I’ll throw you… Oleg will throw you the name.
Vladimir Sivkovych: Yes.
Michael Gordon: He’s on his way because we were told that the level of — the level as far as we’re looking at it now — will change, if you understand. And the urgency has changed.
Vladimir Sivkovych: I understand, yes. So the Jews have raised the bar?
Michael Gordon: Yes. That’s why Uncle David, well Uncle David… Uncle David, who we call, well, our Uncle David, right? Just being friendly. He’s been suspended because he’s doing more, how do you say, you know, physical stuff. And this has to do with, you know, what?
Vladimir Sivkovych: Well I know if it’s Nativ, I understand.
Michael Gordon: Yeah, that’s it.
Vladimir Sivkovych: Okay.
Michael Gordon: Well, they’re not going to be very happy with what, what they’re going to see. Well, because to go in there is less than a minute this whole place is destroyed.
So–Is Zelenskyy a Puppet or Puppeteer?
It turns out that Ukrainian oligarchs living in Russia actively interfered in the 2019 elections and used the capabilities of Russian-friendly Volodymyr Sivkovych for this purpose. The materials from the investigation that occurred during Kulinich’s trial and the information from the SBU support that Sivkovych was the main recruiter of Zelenskyy’s security services and was among high-ranking officials of Ukraine. Then according to those records, Sivkovych acted as a central liaison among all of the parties mentioned and as a direct proxy to Zelenskyy himself. This calls into question the legitimacy of Zelenskyy’s presidency. He was helped to come to power by the Russians not duly elected by the Ukrainian people. And besides, the SBU was under the control of the Russians until mid-2022. It is no coincidence that criminal cases have been brought against Volodymyr Sivkovych in Ukraine, where he is directly accused of being an FSB agent and working under the control of the Russian security services.
If we believe the investigation’s conclusion that Zelenskyy consciously relied on the support of the Russians and realized that he had put a Russian agent at the head of the SBU, then where is the confidence that he will not again be under the influence of similar destructive forces like the Russians, the Chinese, or some Ukrainian clans? Yet, there is a far greater threat to US interests that lies within Bakanov, a man who has become disgruntled and is ready to do anything to hide both his past and his plans for the future. One can have different opinions about Joe Biden, but sleepy Joe at some point turned out to be shrewder than both the CIA and the U.S. State Department. Under the pressure of Zelenskyy and the military-industrial lobby, he initially allocated funds to keep Zelenskyy’s regime afloat. With Zelenskyy’s recent and almost maniacal invasion into Russian territory, Biden became hesitant at some point, fearing to be drawn into a military conflict with Russia as Zelenskyy begs the US for more long-range weapons to stave Russian retaliation.
Will Ukraine be another Afghanistan, but much worse?
When Kabul fell, Washington abandoned not only thousands of its supporters to the tender mercies of the Taliban, but also billions of dollars’ worth of state-of-the-art military equipment. Critics of the war in Ukraine among Republican congressmen often draw a parallel between the Afghan debacle and the potential Ukrainian disaster. And there is no guarantee that the whole American adventure in Ukraine will not turn out to be another Washington catastrophe and international embarrassment, as happened three years ago in Afghanistan.