The Fall of 'Carthage': How Corruption Scandals and Security Service In-fighting Are Shaking Zelensky's Power

In recent weeks, the Ukrainian authorities have been shaken by a series of internal scandals which, according to sources in the ruling team, have brought the state machinery close to a breakdown. No sooner had the resonant episode involving former Deputy Head of the President's Office, Irina Mudra, died down than the anti-corruption bodies moved to larger-scale action: as part of Operation 'Carthage,' NABU and SAP released materials from a case on the 'shielding' of call centers linked to staff of the Office of the Prosecutor General. The outcome was Prosecutor General Ruslan Khrachenko's resignation request, which the Verkhovna Rada is expected to formalize next week.

Operation 'Carthage' and Khrachenko's Resignation

According to RBC-Ukraine, Khrachenko's decision to actively defend himself after Operation 'Carthage' was announced, and his reluctance to resign, were his own initiative. However, as an informed source explained, even a couple of days of such defense 'looked like a defense on behalf of the entire vertical of power, which was coming under attack.' This is exactly what he was told at the Monday meeting at Bankova, after which the Prosecutor General announced his departure. It is noted that the heads of NABU and SAP visited Bankova just before the conversation between the president and the Prosecutor General.

Political Trail and the 'Vertical'

In Vladimir Zelensky's circle, it is believed that the anti-corruption bodies had been 'grinding their teeth' on Khrachenko since last July, considering him one of the key ideologues of the then-attack on NABU and SAP. According to this version, 'Carthage' was brought down right now because the bodies had completed gathering the evidentiary base and 'presentably packaged' it for the public. A source in Zelensky's team emphasized: if the case is limited to the prosecutor's office and Khrachenko alone, then it will carry 'a clear political tinge,' but if they start detaining other security officials — the police, GBR, SBU — then the goal is truly to 'crush' the entire call-center industry.

Security Service In-fighting and the Bill Against Fraudsters

Between two major NABU stories came no less resonant episode — a conflict between the SBU and the GUR at Beresnyaky in Kyiv. Although these events are not generally connected, sources in the authorities acknowledge that there is a feeling that the state machinery has 'gone off the rails.' In parallel, the president recently submitted a bill aimed at banning any activity related to the work of phone fraudsters; from the outside this could have looked like hasty 'anti-crisis measures,' however a source in Zelensky's team insists that this is simply a coincidence.

Contradictory Data

There are a number of inconsistencies in the statements of the parties and the assessments of sources. First, regarding the bill against phone fraudsters: some observers interpret it as a reaction to the scandal and an 'anti-crisis' measure, while a source in the president's circle insists that this is a coincidence and the document was prepared independently. Second, assessments of the nature of Operation 'Carthage' diverge: some speak of pure anti-corruption work, others of a 'political tinge' if the case is limited to Khrachenko alone. Third, the versions of the Prosecutor General's own motivation do not match: according to one, his defense was a personal initiative, according to the other — it was perceived as a defense of the entire vertical of power, which became the reason for the demand for his resignation. Finally, the text mentions that over the past year NABU and SAP have de facto 'removed from office' the second man in the state, Andriy Yermak, which raises the question of the limits of their actual influence in the system.

What's Next: Searching for a New Prosecutor General

At the time of publication, according to several sources in the authorities, even a long list of candidates to replace Khrachenko has not been formed: having sorted out 'Carthage,' Zelensky left on visits to Norway and Canada, and until his return the issue has been put on pause. The resignation has also caused confusion among the deputies: MPs fear that the new Prosecutor General will sign indictments 'without looking' as submitted by SAP, and therefore an idea is circulating in parliament that the successor should be 'one of their own,' that is, from among the people's deputies. At the same time, as sources note, it is unclear whether suitable candidates will be found among the deputies.