SBU dismisses senior officials after anti-graft agencies probe possible role in high-profile case

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1. 27m ago

   SBU chief dismisses two senior officials amid NABU corruption probe

   SBU head Oleksandr Poklad fired two senior officials after the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) implicated them in Operation Carthage, an investigation into a criminal organization accused of systematically bribing law enforcement to protect scam call centers and other illegal businesses. The dismissals follow searches at the homes of senior security figures, including the Kyiv Oblast police chief, and allegations that SBU officers helped shield the network and participated in planning attacks and kidnappings.

   Why it matters

   Operation Carthage represents a significant escalation in Ukraine's anti-corruption drive, directly targeting the Security Service, a body central to wartime intelligence and counterintelligence. The case tests whether President Zelenskyy's administration can hold its own security apparatus accountable while fighting Russia. NABU's claim of a Russian-linked drug syndicate operating with alleged SBU protection adds a national-security dimension to the graft allegations.

   What is confirmed

   • NABU and SAPO uncovered a criminal organization accused of systematically bribing senior law enforcement officials to protect scam call centers and illegal businesses.
   • SBU head Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior SBU officials implicated in the NABU investigation under Operation Carthage.
   • Anti-corruption authorities searched the home of the Kyiv Oblast police chief as part of Operation Carthage.
   • Investigators allege senior SBU officials helped shield a criminal network and were involved in planning attacks and kidnappings.

   Still unconfirmed

   • NABU exposed a Russian-linked drug syndicate with alleged SBU protection.
   • Head of Zelenskyy's Office Budanov called for decisive action over the corruption revelations.

   What to watch next

   • High Anti-Corruption Court ruling on pretrial measures for suspects including Volodymyr Tsenov
   • Further dismissals or arrests of SBU or National Police leadership
   • NABU and SAPO public release of detailed evidence linking specific officials to the criminal network
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. kyivindependent.com — The Kyiv Independent — News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe
   2. www.rferl.org — Vucic Concedes Defeat In Pivotal Serbian Parliamentary Election
   3. The Kyiv Independent — SBU dismisses senior officials after anti-graft agencies probe possible role in high-profile case
   4. Reuters — Ukraine's corruption police tie senior security officials to major criminal ring
   5. Українська правда — Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies expose new criminal organisation as part of Operation Carthage
   6. Ukrinform — Poklad dismisses two SBU officials implicated in Carthage case
   7. Yahoo — Operation Carthage: anti-corruption authorities search home of Kyiv Oblast Police chief
   8. Українська правда — Head of Zelenskyy's Office Budanov on high-profile corruption revelations involving law enforcement officials: Decisive action needed
   9. The New Voice of Ukraine — NABU exposes Russian-linked drug syndicate with alleged SBU protection
   10. mezha.net — The High Anti-Corruption Court November 5 will consider a motion for a pretrial measure for Volodymyr Tsenov
   11. kyivindependent.com — SBU dismisses senior officials after anti-graft agencies ...
   12. en.interfax.com.ua — Poklad dismisses two senior SBU officials implicated in NABU ...
   confidence 90%