SBU chief dismisses two senior officials linked to NACCU Operation Carthage investigation
SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior SBU officials who became suspects in the National Agency on Corruption Prevention’s Operation “Carthage” investigation. The SBU said it fully supports the NACCU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, while Poklad called for a transparent, objective and impartial investigation.
Key points
- The dismissal decision was made on November 4.
- Two senior SBU officials were dismissed after becoming suspects in the NACCU’s Operation “Carthage” investigation.
- The SBU confirmed searches of its employees conducted by the NACCU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.
- The investigation uncovered an alleged criminal organization involving at least 12 people.
- The organization allegedly controlled at least 52 fraudulent call centers in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk.
- Call-center operators allegedly paid $7,000 per month for protection, with payments routed through a cryptocurrency wallet.
- The NACCU says a senior SBU official threatened detectives with a firearm and prevented them from entering a premises during a search.
Why it matters
The dismissals represent a significant internal response by the SBU to allegations that senior officials were involved in the investigation. The case concerns an alleged criminal organization with links to serving law-enforcement officials and a network of at least 52 fraudulent call centers. The SBU’s declared support for the anti-corruption bodies may affect scrutiny of alleged corruption within law-enforcement institutions, while reported obstruction and threats during searches raise concerns about institutional cooperation and the conduct of the investigation.
What happened
SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior SBU officials who became suspects in the NACCU’s Operation “Carthage” investigation, with the decision made on November 4. The NACCU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said they had uncovered a criminal organization involving at least 12 people, serving officials from the SBU, the Office of the General Prosecutor and the National Police, and criminal figures. The alleged organization controlled at least 52 fraudulent call centers in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, trafficked drugs, produced counterfeit cigarettes, circulated forged foreign currency and organized attacks and abductions. Call-center operators allegedly paid officials and criminal figures $7,000 per month for protection through a cryptocurrency wallet. The NACCU says a senior SBU official threatened detectives with a firearm and prevented them from entering a premises during a search. Poklad said the SBU supports the NACCU and the anti-corruption prosecutors and urged “the Mexican,” identified in the material as Russian citizen Yegor Burkin, also known as Yegor Levchenko, to surrender. He said the SBU would find him regardless of his location.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage centers on the dismissal of two senior SBU officials, the SBU’s declared support for the NACCU and anti-corruption prosecutors, and cooperation with partner intelligence services. Reports also foreground alleged links between the criminal organization and serving law-enforcement officials, including alleged protection of call centers, bribes, drug trafficking and violence.
Where reporting differs
The supplied accounts differ in how they characterize the timing of the dismissal decision. Some state that it followed a new phase of Operation “Carthage,” while others present it as part of the SBU’s response to the broader investigation without specifying that sequence.
Background
Operation “Carthage” was launched by the NACCU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators alleged that the organization included serving officials from the SBU, the Office of the General Prosecutor and the National Police, as well as criminal figures. The alleged organization operated fraudulent call centers, trafficked drugs, produced counterfeit cigarettes, circulated forged foreign currency, and organized attacks and abductions. Investigators alleged that at least 12 people were involved and that the organization controlled at least 52 call centers in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk. Call-center operators allegedly paid officials and criminals $7,000 per month for protection, with payments routed through a cryptocurrency wallet. The SBU said it fully supports the investigation and assists with required procedural actions.