Ukraine Launches Extensive Raids and Arrests Targeting Anti-Corruption Officials

Ukrainian security services have recently arrested officials from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) amid a sweeping crackdown that the agency claims has severely undermined its operations. On Monday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained one NABU official for allegedly being a Russian spy, while another was arrested over potential business connections to Russia.

The SBU further implicated NABU officials with ties to a banned political party linked to a fugitive Ukrainian politician. However, NABU has responded, asserting that the crackdown has extended beyond legitimate state security concerns to include unrelated accusations, such as traffic incidents from years prior.

Transparency International criticized the searches as an attempt to exert “massive pressure” on those fighting corruption in Ukraine. In a statement, the G7 ambassadors in Kyiv stressed their commitment to upholding transparency and independent institutions, while expressing serious concerns about the ongoing developments.

Reports indicate that law enforcement conducted at least 70 searches across various agencies involving 15 NABU employees. NABU pointed out that these actions occurred without proper court approval and mainly stemmed from accusations related to road traffic accidents.

Although NABU acknowledges the risk of Russian infiltration, it argues that this cannot justify the disruption of its entire operation. Concerns about political motivations have intensified following the recent charges against Vitaliy Shabunin, a prominent anti-corruption activist, which he and his supporters claim are retributive actions by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration.

The SBU claims to have apprehended a mole within NABU who allegedly shared sensitive information with Russian intelligence. Meanwhile, a third detainment linked some NABU officials to a lawmaker believed to have fled Ukraine.

Transparency International has called for President Zelenskyy to ensure the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.