Operation Carthage explained: Key figures, allegations and $2 million case

NV briefly recaps the main facts about Operation Carthage in its infographic.

Key figures in the investigation

• “Chancellor” (Serhii Kropyva) — deputy head of the International Cooperation Department at the Prosecutor General’s Office.
• “Chief” — the person Chancellor acted on behalf of. Media outlets have speculated that this may be Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, but he denies any involvement.
• “Muse” (Yelyzaveta Ivakhnenko) — a close associate of Serhii Kropyva and former deputy dean of the Faculty of Cybersecurity and Information Technologies at Odesa Law Academy.
• “Comrade” — Chancellor’s driver.
• “Flash” — Chancellor’s aide.

Possible money-laundering methods

(according to investigators)

• Members of the organization spent more than 20 million hryvnias (about $460,000) on real estate, jewelry and valuable movable property.
• More than 12 million hryvnias (about $276,000) in assets were re-registered in the names of third parties to conceal the true owner.
• Members of the organization placed more than 10 million hryvnias (about $230,000) in the accounts of close associates, presenting the funds as income from business activities.

Key events

Sept. 4

NABU and SAPO carried out investigative actions at the Prosecutor General’s Office, including searches of offices used by Ruslan Kravchenko. Investigative actions were also carried out at premises associated with Deputy Prosecutor General Mariia Vdovychenko and Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration.

Sept. 5

Investigators uncovered five suspected members of the criminal organization. They are suspected of receiving illicit benefits from fraudulent call centers and laundering illegally obtained property.

Sept. 6

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Serhii Kropyva, deputy head of the International Cooperation Department at the Prosecutor General’s Office, held in custody until Nov. 2, with bail set at 120 million hryvnias (about $2.76 million). He is suspected of protecting fraudulent call centers and laundering assets worth 89.9 million hryvnias (about $2.07 million).

Sept. 7

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Yelyzaveta Ivakhnenko held in custody for 60 days, with bail set at 20 million hryvnias (about $460,000). She is suspected of laundering illegally obtained funds. Ruslan Kravchenko submitted his resignation as prosecutor general.

Data from NABU, SAPO, Ukrainska Pravda, ZN.ua and NV