Unveiling a Criminal Syndicate in Ukraine
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) have formally charged five individuals linked to a criminal syndicate uncovered during the so-called "Carthage" operation. This network was involved in fraudulent call centers, drug trafficking, counterfeiting foreign currency, and other illicit activities, including corruption involving senior law enforcement officials.
Among those accused are the group's mastermind, the first deputy head of a department within the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the head of a National Police department, the deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police in the Kyiv region, and an aide to the organizer. The organization was established by a repeat offender known by the alias "Criminal" and included at least 12 members in total.
Criminal Activities and Consequences
The syndicate operated fraudulent call centers, engaged in drug sales, produced counterfeit cigarettes, and forged foreign currency. It also orchestrated assaults, kidnappings, and inflicted bodily harm to protect its criminal interests.
Operation "Carthage" began no later than September 2026. On November 4, 2026, NABU and SAP announced the exposure of this criminal group, which routinely bribed high-ranking law enforcement officials. On the same day, SBU Chief Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two senior SBU officers implicated in the investigation.
Earlier, on September 6, 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered preventive detention for Serhiy Kropyva, with bail set at 120 million hryvnias. Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko denied any involvement in covering up the fraudulent call centers. It is worth noting that Kravchenko left the country on official business in a government vehicle on September 14, 2026, and has not returned since.
The accused face multiple charges under the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including but not limited to:
- Part 1, Article 255
- Part 3, Article 27; Part 3, Article 369
- Part 3, Article 27; Part 3, Article 127
- Part 3, Article 27; Part 3, Article 199
- Part 3, Article 209
- Part 3, Article 255
- Part 4, Article 368
- Part 5, Article 27; Part 3, Article 127
- Part 5, Article 27; Part 3, Article 199
- Part 2, Article 255
- Part 3, Article 127
The list of suspects includes the criminal ring’s leader, the first deputy head of an SBU department, the head of a National Police department, the deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Department in Kyiv region, and an associate of the organizer. Key milestones in this case include:
- Formation of the group in mid-2025
- Exposure in September 2026
- Dismissal of SBU officials on November 4, 2026
- Preventive detention for Serhiy Kropyva on September 6, 2026
- Prosecutor General Kravchenko’s departure abroad on September 14, 2026
The revelation of this criminal network through Operation "Carthage" highlights significant issues with corruption within Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies. The involvement of senior officials in illegal activities raises serious concerns about public trust in state institutions. Investigations are ongoing, and forthcoming actions by NABU and SAP could set important precedents in the country’s anti-corruption efforts. This case also underscores the urgent need for reforms within Ukraine’s law enforcement system to prevent similar criminal enterprises in the future.
The recent developments in the Carthage operation highlight the extensive reach of organized crime in Ukraine. For a deeper understanding of the individuals involved and the implications of their actions, you can explore further details in our coverage of the charges brought against members of the criminal network.