Ukraine's Security Service Chief Fires Two Officials Named in NABU's Operation Carthage

The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Poklad, has dismissed two high-ranking SSU officials who became persons of interest in an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, known as Operation Carthage, the SSU said on 4 November.

"Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad has dismissed two high-ranking SSU officials who have become persons of interest in a National Anti-Corruption Bureau investigation within the framework of Operation Carthage," the service said in a statement. "The SSU is providing full support and facilitating all necessary procedural actions in the specified criminal proceedings."

Poklad said the SSU expects a transparent, objective and impartial investigation, and that he had discussed the matter with the heads of NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, or SAPO.

"There is clear and constructive cooperation. In addition, I am in touch with our counterparts from the intelligence services of partner countries. We are doing everything necessary to ensure that these crimes are investigated in other jurisdictions as well," Poklad said.

He also addressed a suspect in the case known by the nickname Meksykanets, or the Mexican, urging him to surrender. "As for the 'Meksykanets' involved in the case, I suggest he come to Ukraine and give himself up to the law enforcement agencies. Otherwise we will find him ourselves, wherever he is hiding. We have the experience. The SSU works and will continue to work only for Ukraine," he said.

On the morning of 4 November, NABU conducted searches targeting Anton Kravchuk, head of the SSU's Main Department of Internal Security. NABU had earlier reported that during court-mandated searches, one of the senior SSU officials under investigation threatened to use firearms and denied detectives access to the search location.

Ukrainska Pravda sources identified that official as General Serhii Duka, first deputy head of the SSU's Department for the Protection of National Statehood. Duka was later detained by NABU officers.

According to the case materials, members of the criminal organisation exposed through Operation Carthage had planned a violent attack on investigative journalist Denys Bihus over a Bihus.Info investigation into U420, a retail chain that sold narcotics.

On recordings released in connection with the case, the threats against Bihus are voiced by the suspect nicknamed Meksykanets. This is reported to be Russian citizen Yegor Burkin, also known as Yegor Levchenko, the alleged head of the Khimprom transnational drug cartel.