The key facts

  • NABU conducted about 70 searches in a bribery case involving the cover-up of fraudulent call centers
  • Head of Zelensky's office Kyrylo Budanov called for an objective investigation
  • Head of the SBU Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior officials

Reaction of the presidential office

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov commented on the anti-corruption operation Codenamed Carthage, saying on social media: The law is the same for everyone. Positions, ranks and powers cannot be grounds for avoiding responsibility. According to him, corruption and any crimes must receive a proper legal assessment, and Kyiv expects an objective, independent investigation and fair decisions. This is reported by Gazeta.Ru.

Course of the investigation

On November 4 it was reported that NABU is conducting about 70 searches in a bribery case involving the cover-up of fraudulent call centers; suspicion notices were served on senior officials of the SBU and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. As the outlet ZN.UA wrote, citing law enforcement sources, investigators identified the head of the SBU Department for the Protection of National Statehood, General Serhiy Duka, the head of the Main Directorate of Internal Security, Colonel Anton Kravchuk, and the first deputy head of one of the directorates, Oleksandr Kovalchuk.

Suspensions and dismissals

Head of the SBU Vasyl Malyuk — correction: Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two of his senior officials, who became suspects in the investigation. In addition, some Ukrainian police officers were suspended from work after the NABU searches. President Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet commented on the situation — he is currently on visits to European countries.