Ukraine’s Security Service Exposes Major Corruption in National Police, Arrests Senior Officials

Key Developments in Ukraine on May 20

According to Главком: On May 20, Ukraine witnessed a series of significant events, including the exposure of corrupt schemes within the National Police, high-level talks between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Beijing, and the launch of the main session of the 2026 National Multi-Subject Test (NMT). The Security Service of Ukraine, in coordination with the Prosecutor General's Office, uncovered illegal activities involving regional police officials, leading to the arrest of several high-ranking figures. Those detained include:

• Serhiy Bezpalko, head of the Main Department of the National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk region
• Volodymyr Yatsiuk, deputy head of the Main Department of the National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk region
• Andriy Tkachyk, first deputy head of the Main Department of the National Police in Ternopil region
• Illia Hulevatyi, deputy head of the Main Department of the National Police in Zhytomyr region
• A driver from the motor pool of the State Institution for Servicing Ministry of Internal Affairs Units, who acted as an intermediary

During searches of the suspects' premises, authorities seized a luxury fleet of six vehicles, five Swiss-made watches, firearms and bladed weapons, as well as cash totaling over 22.6 million Ukrainian hryvnias. In response, the National Police leadership has suspended the detained officials from their duties pending the investigation.

International Talks and Frontline Updates

In Beijing, talks between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin concluded with the signing of a declaration advocating for the establishment of a multipolar world order. The Russian and Chinese leaders also agreed to construct a new railway line along their shared border, signaling deeper cooperation between the two nations.

In Ukraine, the Armed Forces received a new domestically produced laser simulator designed to train operators of the FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defense system, aimed at improving counter-drone capabilities. Concurrently, the main session of the 2026 NMT began nationwide and will run until June 25.

A court extended the pretrial detention of former minister Mykola Solskyi, while Hungary’s prime minister criticized the Budapest Memorandum. Additionally, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers dismissed two deputies of Fedorov, continuing a series of personnel changes within the government.

The uncovering of corruption within the National Police underscores the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in reforming its law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the China-Russia talks highlight a growing strategic partnership that could reshape regional geopolitics. This dual dynamic emphasizes the need for Ukraine to closely monitor international relations while addressing internal governance issues.

The recent crackdown on corruption within the National Police highlights the ongoing efforts to address systemic issues in Ukraine. As the government navigates these challenges, it is also focusing on broader geopolitical dynamics, such as the implications of new sanctions and military parades in Moscow. These developments further illustrate the complex landscape that Ukraine is operating within as it seeks reform and stability.