---
title: "\"My detention is revenge\": SBU General Duka claims political interference in NABU case after release from pre-trial detention"
description: "SBU General Serhii Duka, released on November 13 on 65 million UAH bail, alleged political interference in investigations against NABU staff, reported a leak of materials, and called on the Rada to establish a TIC to verify the anti-corruption bloc."
date: 2026-11-13T18:31:07.896Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/duka-claims-political-interference-in-nabu-case
tags: [ukraine, nabu, sap, sbu, serhiy-duka, corruption, verkhovna-rada, vsk]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "My detention is revenge": SBU General Duka claims political interference in NABU case after release from pre-trial detention

![SBU General Serhii Duka in a courtroom sitting behind a glass enclosure wearing a green jacket](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/duka-posle-vyhoda-iz-sizo-zayavil-o-politicheskom-vmeshatelstve-v-del-nabu/duka-posle-vyhoda-iz-sizo-zayavil-o-politicheskom-vmeshatelstve-v-del-nabu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Serhii Duka was released from pre-trial detention on November 13, 2026, after posting 65 million UAH bail
- The general claimed that the highest political leadership ordered not to use materials regarding NABU employees
- Duka called on the Verkhovna Rada to create a TIC to investigate the activities of NABU and SAPO
- According to NABU, Duka provided cover for a criminal organization as part of Operation "Carthage"
- The general linked the actions of anti-corruption agencies to the weakening of Ukraine's negotiating position

On November 13, 2026, General Serhii Duka of the Security Service of Ukraine, having spent nine days in a pre-trial detention center, was released after posting bail of 65 million hryvnias. Immediately upon his release, he issued a public statement accusing the state leadership of attempting to block an investigation into National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) employees and alleged a leak of confidential materials. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the text of the general's own statement.

### Instruction not to "execute materials" and the revenge theory

According to Duka, during the investigation he was conducting into NABU employees, he received an instruction from the highest political leadership of the state not to use the materials he had collected. "There was an instruction from the highest political leadership of the state not to execute materials on NABU employees. I can prove this. My detention is revenge by the heads of anti-corruption agencies for documenting NABU employees and their corrupt crimes," the general declared. He directly links his detention to his documentation of the activities of anti-corruption structures.

### Documents from the First Deputy Prosecutor General's office and leaks

Duka reported that during the first stage of the "Carthage" special operation, NABU detectives seized documents from the office of First Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Mariia Vdovychenko concerning NABU employees and individuals close to the leadership of anti-corruption bodies. The general claims that these materials were subsequently leaked and states that he has evidence of this fact. However, he did not disclose details or name specific individuals involved in the leak.

### Call for a temporary investigative commission

Addressing members of parliament, Serhii Duka called on the Verkhovna Rada to create a temporary investigative commission (TIC) to check the activities of NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). "I ask parliamentarians to create a TIC and investigate, in the manner prescribed by law, the activities of NABU and SAPO and their subordinates regarding the commission of corruption crimes that we documented. I will provide all testimonies," he emphasized. Thus, the general is effectively proposing a parliamentary oversight mechanism for the anti-corruption bloc, which he claims is itself the subject of corrupt abuse.

### Connection to negotiations: "Super-realizations" undermine Ukraine's position

Duka placed special emphasis on his belief that the actions of anti-corruption agencies have a negative impact on Ukraine's position during international negotiations. "At a time when the state leadership is flying to negotiations that are extremely difficult for our country, anti-corruption agency staff are conducting so-called 'super-realizations' that lead nowhere, but undermine our negotiating position and force us to make concessions regarding our territorial integrity and sovereignty," the general stated. He did not name specific negotiations or their participants in his statement.

### Context: The investigation's version and Operation "Carthage"

Recall that NABU and SAPO detained Serhii Duka on November 4, 2026, as part of Operation "Carthage." According to the investigation, the general provided cover for a criminal organization to avoid the attention of SBU officers; in recordings published by NABU, he appears under the pseudonym "Akim." According to anti-corruption agencies, the group was involved in operating fraudulent call centers, drug trafficking, and producing counterfeit currency. Thus, the official classification of Duka's actions by the investigation and his own interpretation of events differ fundamentally: to NABU, he is a suspect in a case of covering up an organized criminal group; to himself, he is a victim of political pressure for documenting corruption within the anti-corruption bloc.

## Accounts differ

### Reason for Serhii Duka's detention and the nature of his actions

- **Serhii Duka (statement of 11/13/2026):** His detention is revenge by anti-corruption agency heads for documenting NABU employees and their corrupt crimes; the highest political leadership instructed not to use the collected materials ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/duka-pislya-vihodu-sizo-zvernuvsya-radi-detali-1794593767.html))
- **NABU / SAPO (investigation version):** Duka provided cover for a criminal organization involved in fraudulent call centers, drug trafficking, and counterfeit currency; he appears under the pseudonym "Akim" in recordings ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/duka-pislya-vihodu-sizo-zvernuvsya-radi-detali-1794593767.html))

*Where they agree:* Duka was detained on November 4, 2026, under Operation "Carthage" and released on November 13 on 65 million UAH bail—this is confirmed by both sides

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Дука после выхода из СИЗО обратился к Раде: детали заявления](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/duka-pislya-vihodu-sizo-zvernuvsya-radi-detali-1794593767.html) - Text of Duka's statement, details of the 65 million UAH bail, the call for a TIC, quotes on political interference and leaks. Context of the November 4 detention under Operation "Carthage" and the NABU version are included in the same material.

## FAQ

### When and under what conditions was Serhii Duka released from pre-trial detention?

On November 13, 2026, SBU General Serhii Duka was released from the pre-trial detention center after posting bail of 65 million hryvnias. He was detained on November 4, 2026, as part of Operation "Carthage."

### What exactly did Duka say about political interference?

According to Duka, the state's highest political leadership gave an order not to execute (use) the materials he collected on NABU employees. He claims he can prove this and links his detention to revenge from anti-corruption agency heads for documenting their activities.

### What is the NABU version of Duka's actions?

According to the investigation, Duka provided cover for a criminal organization to shield it from SBU officers. In recordings published by NABU, he appears under the pseudonym "Akim." The organization, according to anti-corruption authorities, was engaged in operating fraudulent call centers, drug trafficking, and manufacturing counterfeit currency.

### What did Duka suggest the Verkhovna Rada do?

The general called on MPs to create a temporary investigative commission (TIC) to investigate the activities of NABU, SAPO, and their subordinates regarding the commission of corruption crimes, as prescribed by law. He stated he is ready to provide all testimony.