Ukraine accuses three senior security officials
The anti-corruption agency suspects police and security-service officials of protecting a criminal network.
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Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators have formally accused three senior police and security-service officials of involvement in a criminal network. According to NABU, the network was involved in fraud, drug trafficking and the production of counterfeit money and cigarettes.
NABU, Ukraine’s national anti-corruption bureau, announced the case on Wednesday and Thursday. The bureau says that a first deputy head of a department at the SBU security service, a department head and a deputy section head of the national police allegedly helped or protected a network.
The investigators refer to the case by the codename Carthage. In addition to the three officials, NABU says two alleged organisers were also suspected. The agency says at least seven other people may have been involved in the network.
The people involved have not been named. A suspicion is not a conviction; the investigation must still establish which facts can be proved in court. NABU has made no definitive statement in the available announcement about guilt or the scale of the damage.
The case comes at a time when Ukraine is under pressure to maintain the credibility of its anti-corruption efforts. The fight against high-level corruption is important for the country’s rapprochement with Europe and for the confidence of international donors providing Ukraine with financial and military support during the war.
The news therefore goes beyond an individual criminal investigation. If security and police officials have indeed protected criminal networks, that affects the reliability of state institutions. At the same time, it remains to be seen whether the allegations will stand up in an independent trial. NABU says the investigation is ongoing and that further suspicions are possible.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- NABU says that three senior Ukrainian officials have been formally accused.
- According to NABU, the allegations concern a network involved in fraud, drug trafficking and counterfeit products.
- The suspects have not been named and guilt has not been established.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that independent anti-corruption bodies must be given room to investigate security services and political elites as well, particularly during wartime.
Values The rule of law, equality before the law and democratic oversight.
Consequences Fears that impunity will damage public resources, trust and international support.
Centre
Arguments At the same time, emphasises decisive law enforcement and safeguards under the rule of law: suspicions must be investigated publicly, but guilt can only be established by a court.
Values Institutional independence, evidence and the continuity of the state.
Consequences Points out that a credible trial can both strengthen reforms and limit reputational damage caused by unsubstantiated claims.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that criminal networks within security bodies pose a direct security risk and that leaders must intervene swiftly if the suspicions are confirmed.
Values Public order, state security and the responsibility of those in government.
Consequences Fears that internal corruption will weaken Ukraine’s military and administrative capacity during the war.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article carefully attributes the allegations to NABU and Reuters and does not name the suspects. The text makes clear that this is an ongoing investigation, not proven guilt.
- confirmed Three senior police and security-service officials have been formally accused. — Reuters quotes NABU’s announcements. source
- confirmed The investigation concerns fraud, drug trafficking and the production of counterfeit money and cigarettes. — Reuters describes the allegations based on NABU. source
- confirmed The case is called Carthage and at least seven other people may be involved. — Reuters reports both details. source
Editor's note
The allegations originate with NABU and were reported by Reuters. Names, the amount of damage and guilt have not been established and are therefore not included.Sources
- Ukraine accuses senior security and police officials over criminal ring — Reuters
- Investigation — National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „oekraïne corruptie”
- De Telegraaf — „oekraïne corruptie”
- AD — „oekraïne corruptie”