Former Prosecutor’s Office Official Charged in 'Carthage' Case Involving Over 1 Billion UAH in Bribes

New Charges Announced in the 'Carthage' Anti-Corruption Operation

According to 5 канал: The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) have brought fresh charges against a former head of a department within the Prosecutor General’s Office as part of the ongoing 'Carthage' investigation. Authorities allege that the official was part of a criminal network systematically accepting illicit payments to facilitate the operations of fraudulent call centers. This criminal group was reportedly established in mid-2025 by a senior manager from the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Structure and Methods of the Criminal Network

The network included prosecutors and individuals closely connected to them. Members routinely accepted illegal benefits in exchange for allowing scam call centers to operate unhindered. Investigators claim the suspect managed channels for receiving bribes both in cash and cryptocurrency. He also recruited subordinate staff within the Prosecutor General’s Office and external couriers to assist in executing the scheme.

The accused played a key role in tracking payers, maintaining secrecy, and covering up evidence of the wrongdoing. The total documented amount of bribes exceeds 1 billion UAH. The organization laundered these funds by purchasing real estate, jewelry, and other assets worth more than 20 million UAH. Additionally, over 10 million UAH was legalized through accounts of associates, declared as business income.

Charges against the suspect include criminal offenses under Part 3 of Article 255, Part 5 of Article 27, and Part 4 of Article 368 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. The High Anti-Corruption Court has placed Serhiy Kropyva under pre-trial detention, with an option for bail set at 120 million UAH. The 'Carthage' operation involves both current and former law enforcement officers. Investigators have also uncovered luxury properties linked to Kropyva, along with active Russian passports in his circle.

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office emphasized: 'Members of this organization regularly extracted illicit gains by enabling fraudulent call centers, which conduct widespread scams targeting both Ukrainian citizens and foreigners.'

This case continues to unfold as investigators work to identify additional members of the criminal network. The 'Carthage' operation highlights the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in combating corruption and exposes intricate methods used by public officials to exploit their positions. The revelations from this investigation provide critical insights into the scale of corruption within law enforcement agencies, potentially affecting public trust in state institutions.

In light of the ongoing 'Carthage' investigation, the financial activities of former officials are under scrutiny. Recently, ex-Prosecutor Kravchenko reported a property valued at 22.8 million UAH amidst NABU's inquiries into the same case. This revelation highlights the extensive web of corruption linked to high-ranking officials. For further insights into these developments, see how Kravchenko's declaration ties into the broader implications of the 'Carthage' scandal. Explore the details of Kravchenko's declaration.