In the summer of 2025, the conflict between the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) escalated to unprecedented levels, exposing the issue of abuse of power by law enforcement agencies. Mass searches, blocking access to state secrets, and informational pressure became key tools of pressure on NABU, as evidenced by interviews with NABU Director Semen Kryvonis, statements from detectives, including Ruslan Magamedrasulov, as well as public speeches by SBU leadership led by Vasyl Maliuk.
This is reported by Finway
Large-scale law enforcement operation and its consequences for NABU
On July 21, 2025, the SBU, in cooperation with the State Bureau of Investigations under the procedural control of the Office of the Prosecutor General, conducted over 70 searches of NABU employees. According to Semen Kryvonis, the organization of the searches involved the SBU’s Department for the Protection of National Statehood (including Serhiy Duka, Maksym Vasylyaka, Volodymyr Spilny, Oleksandr Maiboroda, Vadym Melnyk) and the Main Investigative Department led by Andriy Shvets. The Deputy Head of the SBU, Serhiy Naumyk, played a key role in coordinating actions. Some searches were conducted in an “urgent” format – without court orders, which allowed investigative actions against active detectives investigating high-profile cases related to top corruption, including cases involving Tymur Mindich, Oleg Kiper, as well as schemes involving grain and humanitarian aid. Numerous complaints have been recorded regarding the use of force by SBU employees, which led to a significant paralysis of NABU’s work.
Blocking access to state secrets and the information campaign
Following the large-scale searches, NABU detectives were blocked or had their access to state secrets revoked, effectively halting their activities in cases related to restricted access materials. The SBU used control over access to state secrets as an instrument of institutional pressure. The leadership of the SBU, including Vasyl Maliuk and his deputy Serhiy Naumyk, bears responsibility for such actions.
In addition to forceful methods, the SBU resorted to a large-scale information campaign. Statements about “moles” within NABU, the publication of fragments of wiretaps, and absentia suspicions, including against Member of Parliament Fedor Khrystenko, were actively disseminated in the media and social networks, shaping public opinion even before the investigation was completed. Semen Kryvonis emphasizes that NABU did not have access to the materials based on which its employees were discredited, which violates the principle of the presumption of innocence.
“A key point: a significant portion of the searches were conducted as ‘urgent’ — without court orders; the targets were not convicted individuals, but active NABU detectives who were handling high-profile cases related to top corruption (including cases involving Tymur Mindich, Oleg Kiper, grain and humanitarian aid flows); complaints have been recorded regarding the use of force by SBU employees. This was a mass law enforcement operation, the result of which was the paralysis of the Bureau’s work.”
The head of the SBU, Vasyl Maliuk, publicly justified the actions of his subordinates, stating that there was a need for “cleansing from hostile influence” within NABU. His rhetoric boiled down to the formula: “whoever is against is suspicious,” which effectively substitutes judicial procedures with political persecution. The organization of operational measures, illegal wiretaps, and discrediting campaigns was coordinated by Serhiy Naumyk, while the Deputy Head of the President’s Office, Oleg Tatarov, reportedly facilitated the legalization of accusations in courts. Questions regarding Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who signed suspicions against NABU detectives, remain open.
The situation regarding pressure on NABU has negatively impacted Ukraine’s reputation among foreign partners and created a basis for manipulation by adversaries. The NABU case remains open and may have serious consequences for the leadership of the SBU, with new details of the events expected soon.