VAKS takes into custody a prosecutor's office official with a bail of 120 million UAH

Preventive measure for Serhiy Kropyva

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: The High Anti-Corruption Court has chosen a preventive measure for Serhiy Kropyva, an official of the Prosecutor General's Office, in the form of detention with an alternative bail of 120 million UAH. Judge Viktor Maslov announced the decision, according to which the detention order is set until November 2, 2026, inclusive. The prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office requested to set bail at 200 million UAH. However, the court partially satisfied the petition.

Kropyva's defense provided their arguments, stating the groundlessness of the suspicion and the impossibility of posting such a high bail amount. The ruling can be appealed to the Appellate Chamber of VAKS within five days. In case of posting bail, additional obligations are imposed on the suspect. In particular, Kropyva is required to:

• appear at the first request of the investigator, prosecutor, or investigating judge;
• inform about any change in his residence;
• abstain from contacting witnesses, including Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and his First Deputy Maria Vdovichenko;
• hand over passports for traveling abroad for safekeeping;
• wear an electronic monitoring device.

Investigative actions by NABU and SAP

As reported, on September 4, it became known that NABU and SAP are conducting investigative actions to expose a criminal organization led by an official of the Prosecutor General's Office. The following day, September 5, NABU and SAP announced that they had uncovered a criminal organization whose members were receiving and laundering money from fraudulent call centers. According to the investigation, the official created the organization in mid-2025, and its members were receiving bribes for not obstructing the operations of the call centers, harming both Ukrainians and foreigners. The funds obtained through criminal means were laundered through a number of schemes.

On September 6, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko published a statement claiming he had no connection to covering up illegal call centers. He also suspended from duties a staff member of the Prosecutor General's Office mentioned in the NABU investigation and ordered to prepare a personnel decision regarding his dismissal.

The petition for the detention of the suspect Serhiy Vasylovych Kropyva is partially satisfied. A preventive measure in the form of detention is applied with the alternative of posting a bail of 120 million UAH. The detention order is set until November 2, 2026, inclusive - investigating judge Viktor Maslov.

The situation surrounding Serhiy Kropyva and the investigation conducted by NABU underlines the importance of fighting corruption in Ukraine, particularly in the context of the activities of government bodies. The suspension of Kropyva and the prosecutor general's statement about his non-involvement in illegal activities indicate attempts to ensure transparency in the investigation. The developments surrounding this case may significantly affect public trust in anti-corruption institutions and their ability to effectively combat organized crime within government structures.

In light of recent developments surrounding Serhiy Kropyva and the corruption investigations, it is crucial to examine other significant cases that have emerged. Notably, a criminal organization linked to both current and former lawmakers has been uncovered, revealing involvement from high-ranking officials within the presidential office. This situation underscores the pervasive nature of corruption at various levels of government, prompting further scrutiny of similar operations. For more details on this investigation, see the article on the criminal network involving lawmakers and officials.