NABU and SAPO continued their fight against internal enemy - corruption

In 2023, detectives and prosecutors maintained their high work pace: in the last six months alone, they exposed and served suspicion notices on 137 persons. Indictments against 147 persons were sent to court. As a result, nearly a thousand persons are now facing trial.

This year was marked by notable exposures. At the beginning of the year, NABU caught the deputy minister for communities, territories and infrastructure development red-handed receiving a bribe of USD 400,000. He had accepted the money for facilitating contracts for the purchase of equipment. Following the appointment of the new Director of NABU on March 6, 2023, NABU detectives, under the procedural guidance of SAPO prosecutors, uncovered a criminal organization within the State Property Fund of Ukraine. Between 2019 and 2021, its members misappropriated over UAH 500 million from the State Enterprise "Odesa Port Plant" and the State Enterprise "United Mining and Chemical Company."

In May 2023, NABU and SAPO exposed a bribery scheme involving the leadership of the Supreme Court.

Overall, in the first half of 2023, NABU and SAPO notified 11 high-ranking state officials of suspicion, exposed corrupt actions by 26 heads of state-owned enterprises, and held 7 judges accountable.

These achievements were accomplished by less than 300 NABU detectives and SAPO prosecutors, some of whom also joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense. Therefore, there is a pressing need to expand the staff and strengthen the institutional capacity of NABU, including the establishment of its own forensic institution and the implementation of the right to wiretapping.

PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATION
(as of 30.06.2023)

394
suspects
472
indictments
946
accused

in 2023

286
new investigations
137
suspects
58
indictments
147
accused persons

Exposed in the first half of 2023:

11

senior state officials

2

"A" category civil servants

26

heads of state-owned enterprises

7

judges

2

prosecutors

8

deputies

65

others

Faced trial in the first half of 2023:

10

senior state officials

4

"A" category civil servants

2

high-ranking servicemen

12

heads of public enterprises

5

judges

3

deputies of regional councils

81

others

Convicted of corruption*
in the first half of 2023:

1

senior state official

1

high-ranking serviceman

2

heads of public enterprises

2

judges

1

prosecutor

*sentences took effect

Presidential Office ex-head case

The case of the ex-head of the Office of the President became one of the most high-profile in the reporting period.

He and six other members of an organized group were exposed for laundering more than UAH 460 million during the construction of the elite cottage town "Dynasty" in the village of Kozyn, Kyiv region.

The money laundering continued throughout 2021–2025, while the idea of building the complex arose back in 2020.

A significant part of the "dirty" funds, almost USD 9 million, was obtained through a corruption scheme at Energoatom. NABU and SAPO exposed it within the "Midas" operation in November 2025.

At the request of NABU and SAPO, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine seized land plots and five objects of unfinished construction.

The investigation is ongoing.


UAH 460+ million – laundered funds

5 unfinished residential properties (four privately owned and one jointly owned) – assets seized

USD 2 million – approximate cost of one house

7 suspects

Corruption in the energy sector

Exposing corruption in the energy sector remains a priority of NABU and SAPO. Several high-profile cases took place in the first half of 2026.

Ex-Minister of Energy case

The high-profile "Midas" case was further developed. A notice of suspicion of money laundering and participation in a criminal organization was served on the former minister of energy.

During his tenure, the criminal organization received more than USD 112 million in cash through a trusted person.

The funds came from illegal activities in the energy sector, in particular the so-called "barrier" scheme (payment of a kickback by Energoatom counterparties to avoid blocking payments for provided services or supplied products or being deprived of supplier status).

Various financial instruments were used for laundering, including cryptocurrency and a foreign fund, whose accounts were managed by family members of the top official.

The investigation is ongoing.


USD 112+ million – amount of laundered funds

1 suspect


"Green" tariff payments

The former deputy head of the Office of the President was also exposed for energy corruption.

Together with his brother and seven other participants of the scheme, he misappropriated more than UAH 141 million in "green" tariff payments.

In 2022–2023, solar power plants under their control in the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia region illegally received funds from the state for electricity allegedly supplied to the United Energy System of Ukraine.

To justify the payments, inaccurate data on the volumes of generation and supply were entered into the reporting.

The investigation is ongoing.


UAH 141+ million – losses

9 suspects


Power plant construction scheme

A scheme to misappropriate funds during the construction of the Tashlyk pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant was exposed.

The scheme participants artificially inflated the cost of a set of automated control system equipment by UAH 170 million.

A company controlled by the scheme organizer, which systematically violated the deadlines for completing the work and was in bankruptcy proceedings, was chosen as the supplier.

Among the suspects are an entrepreneur and the ex-head of a department of the branch of "Atomprojectengineering" of SE NAEK "Energoatom".

The investigation is ongoing.


UAH 170 million – losses

2 suspects

Corruption in the defense sector

The defense sector remains one of the key focus areas for NABU and SAPO. In the context of a full-scale war, corruption crimes in this sector cause particular harm to the state, as they involve resources intended to strengthen defense capabilities and support the Ukrainian military.

$1M for drones supply

An official of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the owner of a drone manufacturing company were exposed for extorting USD 1 million.

For this money, they promised to ensure the unhindered conclusion and execution of a contract for the supply of unmanned aerial systems.

After a company offering a lower price won the procurement, the owner of the competing firm, in conspiracy with the SBGS official, began demanding a bribe from its director.

To convince the entrepreneur to pay the funds, a phone conversation was organized with a representative of the SBGS, who assured him that all demands were coordinated with the agency's Administration.

The investigation is ongoing.



USD 1 million – bribe

2 suspects



Embezzlement in materials procurement

A state enterprise in the defense sector suffered losses worth over UAH 19 million due to an embezzlement scheme during the procurement of materials.

The first deputy director of the plant, the head of a structural unit, and the director of the supplier company were involved in the deal.

At the request of the plant's officials, the supplier inflated the cost of rolled aluminum by a third, although initially he was ready to supply it at market price.

After the funds were transferred, the scheme participants converted the illegally obtained money into cash.

The investigation is ongoing.



UAH 19 million – losses

~33% – price inflation

3 suspects



Corruption in Ukroboronprom

During 2014–2019, an organized criminal group misappropriated UAH 32 million of state enterprises of the Ukroboronprom concern.

The state enterprise engaged fictitious foreign companies as intermediaries in foreign economic contracts. However, these companies did not provide any services — all work was done directly by the state enterprise employees.

Over five years, the so-called intermediaries were paid more than USD 560 thousand (equivalent to UAH 13.3 million) and almost EUR 670 thousand (equivalent to UAH 19.3 million).

These funds were distributed among the group participants.

The misappropriation of another UAH 19 million was prevented thanks to the active investigative actions of NABU and SAPO.

The investigation has been completed. The defense is reviewing the case materials.



UAH 32+ million – losses

UAH 19 million – prevented losses

3 suspects



Embezzlement of military property

During 2022–2024, a scheme to embezzle spare parts for armored vehicles operated with the participation of the former deputy commander of a military unit in the Kharkiv region.

Companies and individual entrepreneurs controlled by the scheme participants supplied state defense enterprises with spare parts worth over UAH 350 million.

Part of these products originated from military property previously accounted for in a military unit in the Kharkiv region and written off as allegedly lost due to russian missile and bomb strikes.

The deputy commander of the military unit did not ensure proper accounting and preservation of the property, which allowed the scheme to be implemented.

For his participation, he received at least UAH 2.8 million in undue advantage.

The investigation is ongoing.



UAH 350+ million – value of supplied spare parts

UAH 2.8 million – bribe

2 suspects

Corruption in wartime

Despite the full-scale invasion entering its fifth year, certain officials miss no opportunity to line their own pockets. NABU and SAPO continue their systematic work to detect and expose corruption crimes.

Corruption in Sumy region tax authority

The head of one of the departments of the Main Directorate of the State Tax Service in Sumy Region and her subordinate, a chief state auditor of the tax audit department, were exposed for extorting and receiving an undue advantage.

The official demanded UAH 2 million from a representative of a private company operating in a frontline territory.

In exchange for this money, she promised to ensure the successful passing of an audit and not to create artificial obstacles to their business operations.

Subsequently, the bribe amount was reduced to UAH 1.5 million.

The official was detained after receiving a part of the agreed amount.

The investigation is ongoing.

UAH 1.5 million – bribe

2 suspects



Corruption in housing construction for the military

The former acting head of one of the Central Territorial Departments of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine was exposed for soliciting an undue advantage of USD 690,000 from a Kyiv-based developer.

For these funds, he promised to ensure the company's victory in a tender for the construction of housing for Ukrainian servicemen and their families in Kyiv.

Initially, the official "valued" his services at USD 1.1 million, but later agreed to reduce the amount to USD 690,000.

To initiate the procurement process, he demanded a "prepayment" (advance) of USD 100,000.

This is the second notice of suspicion served on this official: previously, NABU and SAPO exposed him in a similar scheme involving the extortion of an undue advantage from another developer.

The investigation is ongoing.

USD 690,000 – requested bribe

USD 100,000 – advance payment

1 suspect



Housing for IDPs at inflated prices

NABU and SAPO exposed a scheme to misappropriate nearly UAH 20 million during the acquisition of real estate for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The organizer of the scheme was the former head of the Lysychansk City Military Administration, who conspired with an entrepreneur and a lawyer.

The participants of the scheme bought out a company that owned a children's camp in Kirovohrad Region, which they subsequently planned to convert into housing for displaced persons.

Consequently, the Lysychansk CMA purchased this facility at a significantly inflated price.

According to forensic expert assessments, the overpayment amounted to UAH 19.3 million.

The investigation is ongoing.

UAH 19.3 million – losses

3 suspects



UAH 36M in losses from shadow leasing

The former head of the State Reserve, the former deputy director of a state-owned enterprise, and two other participants were exposed for misappropriating funds of the state-owned enterprise.

The officials transferred state warehouse premises to controlled companies purportedly for storage, while those companies leased them out in commercial subleases to actual businesses.

To conceal the scheme, fictitious contracts were concluded, and the actual floor area of the transferred premises was understated in the documents.

The obtained funds were converted into cash and distributed among the scheme participants.

The amount of losses is estimated at some UAH 36 million.

The investigation is ongoing.

UAH 36 million – losses

4 suspects

Corruption in the Verkhovna Rada

Paid voting, bribes, and illicit incomes—a number of corruption crimes exposed by NABU detectives during the reporting period were linked to members of parliament of Ukraine.

Parliamentary faction head case

The first half of 2026 began with the high-profile exposure of the head of a parliamentary faction in the Verkhovna Rada for attempting to bribe fellow parliamentarians.

The MP offered systematic illegal payments to certain parliamentarians in exchange for voting on "necessary" draft laws.

The cooperation was planned for a long period, and the people's deputy promised to pay in advance.

In May, the case was referred to court.



1 accused person



Call сenters case

NABU and SAPO exposed a sitting member of parliament for soliciting a bribe, laundering funds, and declaring false information.

In 2023, the official, under the guise of fighting the activities of call centers, promised for USD 1 million to use his powers to interfere in the operations of certain call centers in favor of others.

In addition, the MP legalized UAH 12.6 million of illicit origin through a fictitious gift agreement with his ex-wife.

He declared these funds as lawful income, intentionally providing inaccurate information in his asset declaration.

The investigation is ongoing.



USD 1 million – demanded bribe

UAH 12.6 million – illicit income

1 suspect

Corruption in the Supreme Court

The circle of suspects in the Supreme Court case has expanded.

According to the investigation, three incumbent judges of the Supreme Court and one retired judge received an undue advantage for rendering decisions in favor of the owner of the "Finance and Credit" group.

In 2023, through intermediaries, the businessman handed over USD 2.7 million to the former Head of the Supreme Court, Vsevolod Kniaziev (found guilty by the HACC), and other judges of the Grand Chamber to avoid losing the shares of the Poltava Mining and Processing Plant.

The new notices of suspicion were made possible after obtaining additional evidence in the case.

The investigation is ongoing.


USD 2.7 million – bribe

4 suspects

Corruption in the law enforcement system and prosecutor's office

A considerable number of corruption crimes exposed in the first half of 2026 involved officials of the law enforcement system and the prosecutor's office. Closing criminal proceedings for a reward, writing off multi-million-dollar tax debts, and bribes for "favorable" decisions—all of this became the grounds for NABU and SAPO investigations.

Corruption in the Prosecutor's Office of Ivano-Frankivsk Region

The head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor's Office and a department head promised, for USD 100,000, to close a criminal proceeding and not hold the employees of a private company liable for misappropriating property belonging to a state-owned enterprise.

In addition, they set up a system of receiving kickbacks from a company constructing roads in the region.

In exchange for 3% of the multi-million-dollar contracts, they promised to turn a blind eye to violations committed during the performance of the works.

The investigation has been completed. The defense is reviewing the case materials.



USD 100,000 – bribe

3% – kickback

2 suspects



UAH 641M in written-off taxes

NABU and SAPO exposed the former deputy head of a Department of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, who assisted one of the heads of the State Fiscal Service in abusing his official position.

The prosecutor artificially created the appearance of the latter's inability to make a decision after reviewing a complaint.

On the final day of review, he requested all materials of the complainant's audit, which allowed the fiscal agency top official to pretend that he could not make a decision due to the absence of documents.

As a result of the failure to make a decision within the established timeframe, the complaint was automatically satisfied, and the budget lost the opportunity to collect taxes and penalties totaling over UAH 641 million.

The case is already being tried in court.



UAH 641 million – losses

1 accused person



Draft deferral for $68,000

For USD 68,000, an official of the Security Service of Ukraine promised two citizens to resolve the issue of having them removed from the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRC and SSC) wanted list and subsequently obtaining a mobilization draft deferral.

According to the scheme, deferrals were to be processed for them based on false documents falsely stating that each of them had three minor children.

The "cost" also included exemption from liability for arranging the fictitious deferral.

The case has been referred to court.



USD 68,000 – bribe

1 accused person

$110,000 in exchange for a plea bargain



Another scheme involving Security Service employees was exposed in April.

The head of the Investigative Department of the SBU Office in Poltava Region and his subordinate, acting through a lawyer, extorted USD 110,000 from an entrepreneur.

In return, they pledged to forgo a motion to detain his company’s director and to reach a plea agreement with him.

The accomplices were caught red-handed while receiving the second part of the undue advantage—USD 55,000. The investigation is ongoing.



USD 110,000 – bribe

3 suspects



Luxury car and $44,500 for case closure

Former officials of the Kirovohrad Region Prosecutor's Office operated on a similar principle.

In exchange for closing a criminal proceeding, the first deputy head of the Kirovohrad Regional Prosecutor's Office expected to receive USD 44,500 and a Tesla car.

His colleague, the head of a district prosecutor's office, helped him conceal the unlawfully acquired property.

However, their plan fell through: first, the HACC seized the vehicle under another criminal proceeding, and later NABU and SAPO exposed the scheme.

The investigation is ongoing.



USD 44,500 + Tesla – bribe

3 suspects

Corruption in the State Border Guard Service and at customs

Top corruption in the SBGS

The former head of the State Border Guard Service was exposed for systematically receiving an undue advantage for facilitating the unhindered crossing of the state border.

In 2023, a group of persons organized a scheme to smuggle cigarettes across Ukraine’s state border to the EU.

Top officials of the State Border Guard Service facilitated this, for which they regularly received an undue advantage.

To mask their actions, the participants used cars registered in the Czech Republic and Austria, on which they installed special license plates resembling diplomatic ones.

Throughout July–November 2023, border guards received at least EUR 204,000 for the unhindered passage of 68 cars.

The investigation is ongoing.

EUR 204,000 – bribe

68 cars carrying contraband crossed the border

3 suspects

Legalization of over $2M by an ex-Kyiv Customs officer

A former deputy head of the Kyiv Customs Office is suspected of laundering assets obtained through criminal means.

Specifically, it was established that while serving in the customs authorities, he acquired significant wealth, which during 2020–2021 was invested in the construction of a restaurant and hotel complex on the territory of the "Bukovel" ski resort.

The total amount of investments exceeded USD 2 million in cash.

Upon completion of the construction, the suspect used this asset and received profit from its operations.

To conceal this, he registered the complex in the name of a close relative.

The investigation has been completed. The defense is reviewing the case materials.

USD 2+ million – laundered funds

1 suspect

Corruption in the agricultural sector

UAH 776M grain fraud

NABU and SAPO exposed an organized criminal group that misappropriated grain belonging to the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in 2021, officials of the state-owned corporation entered into export contracts for the supply of feed corn with a foreign company.

Subsequently, the grain was dispatched to the buyer without full payment, contrary to the terms of the contract.

At the same time, the buyer received the original shipping documents, allowing it to take possession of the grain without hindrance.

To conceal the scheme, its participants used forged bills of lading, creating the false appearance that they retained control over the grain.

As a result, the state corporation lost nearly 106,000 tonnes of grain worth more than UAH 776 million.



106,000 tonnes of grain misappropriated

UAH 776 million – losses

5 suspects

Illicit enrichment and false declarations

The detection of hidden assets and illicit enrichment of officials is one of the key areas of work for NABU and SAPO. Here are several illustrative examples of such offenses exposed in the first half of 2026.

Cottage and apartment worth UAH 13M

A member of parliament acquired assets worth nearly UAH 13 million, which significantly exceeded his officially declared income.

With this money, the suspect purchased a cottage and a land plot on the Black Sea coast in the village of Koblevo and an apartment in the center of Kyiv with an area of 132.6 square meters.

The design project and renovation of the latter alone cost him UAH 5.5 million.

The investigation has been completed. The defense is reviewing the case materials.

UAH 13 million – illicit income

1 suspect



Undeclared house

The former head of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control failed to include information about a residential house in Kyiv Region in his annual asset declarations for 2022–2024.

The real estate was purchased in January 2022 and registered in the name of the suspect's parents-in-law.

However, the official and his wife actually used the property.

Following the start of the NABU and SAPO investigation, the official was dismissed. The case is in court.

1 house

1 accused person



UAH 16.7M in illicit enrichment

An apartment and a parking space in an elite district of Lviv with a total value of UAH 16.7 million were purchased by a judge of one of the appellate commercial courts. T

To conceal ownership, the official registered the acquired real estate in his mother-in-law’s name. However, the judge's reported income, considering his outlays and savings, was insufficient for this purchase.

Also, the suspect failed to declare his tenancy in a rented apartment in his 2022-2023 asset declarations.

The investigation is ongoing.

UAH 16.7 million – illicit income

1 suspect



UAH 58M of undeclared loans

A deputy of the Odesa Regional Council was also exposed for declaring inaccurate information.

The official took out several loans totaling over UAH 58 million.

However, in his 2024 and 2025 asset declarations, he deliberately concealed these financial liabilities.

The investigation has been completed. The defense is reviewing the case materials.

UAH 58 million – amount of undeclared loans

1 suspect

Over half a billion hryvnias has been allocated for the needs of the army, and almost a billion hryvnias has been reimbursed to state-owned enterprises.

The economic impact of NABU and SAPO's work since the beginning of 2023 amounts to more than UAH 1.67 billion.

Thanks to NABU and SAPO, an additional UAH 662 million has been sent for the country's defense needs since the start of 2023. In total, since russia unleashed its all-out aggression, almost UAH 2 billion has been allocated. These are assets seized or voluntarily contributed within the scope of criminal proceedings investigated by NABU and SAPO, as well as bail deposited following the rulings of the High Anti-Corruption Court.

Besides funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, nearly UAH 1 billion has been reimbursed to the state, including public enterprises. Over UAH 883 million was returned by private companies to PJSC "Ukrnafta" (50%+1 share owned by the state), and an additional UAH 2 million was compensated for damages to JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" (fully owned by the state).

The materials collected during the investigation by NABU detectives helped successfully prevent the embezzlement of nearly UAH 70.5 million. Throughout 2023, several guilty verdicts were also legally enforced with property confiscation, including both monetary assets and real estate, totaling over UAH 25.5 million.

ECONOMIC EFFECT

Reimbursement in criminal proceedings
(both under investigation and sent to court)

UAH 6.714 bln as of 30.06.2023

UAH 919.438 mln in the first half of 2023



UAH 1.94 bln has been sent to the army



Economic effect of NABU and SAPO work in the first half of 2023

UAH 919.438 mln reimbursed to the state

UAH 25.521 mln assets confiscated to the state revenue by court

UAH 662.418 mln bail, monetary funds, property, and other assets transferred for the country's defense needs by court

UAH 70.424 mln prevented embezzlement

UAH 1.678 bln TOTAL

UAH 1.262 bln NABU’s budget