NABU says prosecutor general's office official ran scheme to protect fraud call centers

Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) say they have uncovered a criminal organization allegedly created and headed by a head of a structural unit at the Office of the Prosecutor General.

According to the investigation, the official set up the group in mid-2025 and brought in current prosecutor's office employees and close associates. Members are said to have received unlawful benefits for not interfering with fraudulent call centers that victimized Ukrainian citizens and foreigners.

Investigators believe the proceeds were laundered through various methods. More than UAH 20 million were spent on real estate, jewelry and other valuables. Assets with a market value of over UAH 12 million, including property in an apartment complex near the Carpathians, were re-registered to third parties. More than UAH 10 million were placed in bank accounts of relatives and presented as income from business activities.

So far, five members of the organization have been identified. The case is preliminarily classified as creation of and participation in a criminal organization, as well as legalization of property obtained by criminal means. Law enforcement says it is working to establish other possible participants.

NABU and SAPO have been conducting investigative actions at the Office of the Prosecutor General as part of a special operation. The office said it would fully cooperate with anti-corruption agencies and suspend the employee whose possible involvement is being checked.

Earlier, Ukrainian media, citing sources, reported searches at Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, his deputy Mariia Vdovychenko and Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper. The Prosecutor General's Office denied searches involving Kravchenko. Sources also indicated that Serhii Kropyva, deputy head of the department for international legal cooperation, had been detained.