Ukraine Probes Senior Officials for Protecting Scam Call Centers
SBU dismissed two senior officials, and police suspended implicated officers after anti-corruption agencies alleged that bribes protected scam call centers and other illegal businesses.
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Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies are investigating senior officials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the National Police, and the Prosecutor General’s Office over an alleged network that protected scam call centers and other illegal businesses.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said Wednesday that they had exposed a criminal group accused of systematically bribing senior law enforcement officials.
They said the scheme involved officials from all three institutions and members of criminal groups.
SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior officials implicated in the case and pledged to assist investigators. The service did not identify the dismissed officers.
The National Police said it was helping NABU and had suspended implicated officers pending an internal investigation.
NABU Alleges Obstruction During Searches
Earlier on Nov. 4, NABU searched premises used by SBU officials under a warrant from Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court.
The bureau said a senior SBU official obstructed the searches and threatened to use a firearm.
It also said SBU special forces arrived at the scene, describing the security service’s actions as “unacceptable.”
Ukrainska Pravda, citing unnamed sources, identified the official as Major General Serhii Duka, first deputy head of the SBU’s Department for the Protection of National Statehood.
The outlet later reported, also citing sources, that NABU had detained him.
The SBU said the searches related to several criminal proceedings and that it was cooperating.
“The Security Service expects a transparent, objective, and impartial investigation,” its press service said.
Investigation Follows Earlier Call Center Case
The inquiry forms part of a broader investigation into an alleged network shielding scam call centers.
In September, NABU uncovered a scheme allegedly involving senior Prosecutor General’s Office officials.
Those revelations led to the downfall of then-Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who subsequently fled the country.
The case comes against a backdrop of conflict between the SBU and anti-corruption agencies.
A government attempt last summer to curb the agencies’ independence prompted nationwide protests.
In 2025, the SBU arrested several NABU employees over alleged Russian links, saying it was countering Russian influence within the bureau.
The independent Anti-Corruption Action Center previously linked Duka to searches targeting NABU employees that year.
It said he may have partly overseen an operation against detectives, including Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, who had been investigating corruption involving the state-run nuclear power monopoly Energoatom.
A court later released two detained detectives and closed the case. Critics described their arrests as a political vendetta.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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