Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has detained an employee of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) on suspicion of spying for Russia, accusing the agency’s leadership of ignoring prior warnings.
The suspect, an officer of NABU’s elite and classified D-2 unit, allegedly passed restricted information to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the SBU said.
According to the investigation, the officer’s subversive activity was coordinated by Dmitry Ivantsov, a former deputy chief of security for ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Ivantsov reportedly helped Yanukovych flee to Russia in 2014, then remained in Crimea, where he joined the Russian occupation and was recruited by the FSB.
The SBU said it documented at least 60 instances in which the agent transferred classified information to his Russian handler. The information reportedly included personal data of Ukrainian law enforcement and other individuals who could become targets of Russian terrorist attacks or psychological operations.
Investigators say the officer used his access to law enforcement databases to collect the information and received payments directly to his bank card from his handler in exchange for each task.
The SBU also said it had previously alerted NABU leadership about the potential threat posed by the individual, but the agency failed to take action. The officer, they said, remained in his post and attempted to destroy evidence of his illegal activities.
The suspect was detained following a special operation, and investigators seized his phone and computer equipment, which were allegedly used to communicate with the FSB.
He was charged under:
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Part 1, Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — high treason;
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Part 3, Article 362 — unauthorized actions involving data in automated systems by a person with access.
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Separately, on July 21, the SBU and Prosecutor General’s Office detained Ruslan Maghamedrasulov, a senior detective in NABU’s interregional department, on suspicion of conducting business in Russia. Authorities are considering additional charges under Article 111-2 — aiding an aggressor state.
In response, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos said he was cutting short a visit to the United Kingdom and returning to Ukraine. The bureau also confirmed searches were being carried out on 15 employees.
Ukrainian law enforcement has now conducted at least 70 searches involving NABU staff, according to the SBU, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
The SBI added that three NABU employees were also formally notified of suspicion in connection with traffic accidents that caused injuries.
Law enforcement sources previously told NV that the series of raids across Ukraine stems from suspected Russian influence over certain NABU detectives.