Dismissal of Prosecutor's Office Employees
On September 8, Viktoriya Dydych and Maksym Shtompel were removed from their positions at the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor's Office. This action followed the release of recordings by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) as part of the special operation named "Carthage." The investigation uncovered a criminal network that provided illegal protection to fraudulent call centers. The dismissal orders were issued by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Background on the Dismissed Officials
Viktoriya Dydych had served for many years within one of the departments of the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor's Office. She led the first division responsible for procedural oversight during pre-trial investigations conducted by territorial police units and for supporting prosecutions. Notably, Viktoriya is the sister of Serhiy Kropyva, who is suspected of orchestrating the criminal scheme. Additionally, Viktoriya's husband, Oleksandr Dydych, is implicated in the "Carthage" case and was a trusted associate of Serhiy Kropyva, the Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation at the Office of the Prosecutor General, who appears in NABU recordings under the alias "Chancellor."
Maksym Shtompel, also dismissed, had served as Deputy Head of the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor's Office since April 2025. Prior to this role, he was the chief of the Cherkasy division of the district prosecutor's office. Operation Carthage revealed that Serhiy Kropyva led the criminal organization, assembling a group including prosecution employees and others who accepted bribes to allow the fraudulent call centers to operate without interference. The total amount of illicit payments exceeded 42 million hryvnias.
Authorities are currently investigating potential money laundering involving these funds, which may have been used to purchase real estate, vehicles, luxury items, or transferred to accounts of close associates. Serhiy Kropyva has been detained with bail set at 120 million hryvnias. This case has sparked widespread public concern as it highlights ongoing challenges with corruption in law enforcement agencies and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.
"The exposure of this criminal network and the dismissal of prosecutors highlight serious corruption issues in Ukraine, raising significant public alarm."
Operation Carthage emphasizes the critical importance of reforming law enforcement bodies to rebuild citizens' trust in the justice system. Ongoing investigations may not only identify all responsible parties in this case but also help prevent similar crimes in the future.
The ongoing investigation into the "Carthage" case continues to unfold, revealing deeper connections within the alleged criminal network. Recently, the Anti-Corruption Court took significant action by detaining lawyer Dydych, who has been linked to the case, and set a substantial bail amount. This development highlights the intricate web of corruption involving various officials. For more details on this latest turn of events, you can read about the lawyer's detention here.