NABU Searches Kyiv Region Police Chief Andriy Rubel Without Charging Him
Ukrainian anti-corruption detectives searched the home of National Police chief for Kyiv Region Andriy Rubel as part of Operation “Carthage.” Rubel was not charged, and the search does not establish his involvement in any crime. The operation included more than 70 simultaneous investigative measures across several state agencies.
Key points
- NABU searched Andriy Rubel, head of the National Police’s Kyiv Region department, on November 5, 2026.
- Rubel was not formally charged.
- The operation included more than 70 simultaneous investigative measures across Ukraine.
- Investigative actions covered the National Police, Security Service of Ukraine, prosecution, courts and currency exchange offices.
- NABU detained two police officials on November 4: first deputy department head Volodymyr Tsenov and a Kyiv Region officer.
- Prosecutors reported suspicions against five participants in a criminal organization.
- The Higher Anti-Corruption Court ordered Tsenov held in custody with the option of posting a 15 million hryvnia bail.
Why it matters
The search affected a senior National Police official within a broad anti-corruption operation involving multiple state institutions. The operation uncovered alleged links between a criminal organization and serving law enforcement officials, while a court imposed a preventive measure on one detained police leader.
What happened
NABU and prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office searched Andriy Rubel’s premises on November 5 as part of Operation “Carthage.” The search was one of more than 70 simultaneous investigative measures conducted across Ukraine. Rubel, who heads the National Police’s Kyiv Region department, was not charged, and the search alone does not establish his involvement in wrongdoing.
On November 4, detectives detained first deputy head of the National Police’s Strategic Investigations Department Volodymyr Tsenov and a Kyiv Region police employee. The latter allegedly manufactured counterfeit euros and directed the retreat of a group involved in torturing victims. The Higher Anti-Corruption Court later ordered Tsenov held in custody, with the option of a 15 million hryvnia bail. Five participants in the criminal organization were reported to have been given notice of suspicion.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the search of Rubel’s home and the fact that he was not charged. The broader operation is presented as an anti-corruption effort involving senior officials from several government agencies, with attention also drawn to ties between the criminal organization, law enforcement officials, fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses.
Background
Andriy Rubel headed the National Police’s Strategic Investigations Department from October 2022 until April 2026, when he was appointed to lead the police in Kyiv Region. According to NABU, Operation “Carthage” covered the National Police, Security Service of Ukraine, prosecution, judicial institutions and currency exchange offices.