--- title: "NABU arrests SBU general during Operation Carthage: Case of 'protection' for fraudulent call centers" description: "NABU has arrested General Serhiy Duka, first deputy head of the SBU's national statehood protection department, as part of Operation Carthage. The case involves security officials 'protecting' fraudulent call centers." date: 2026-11-04T16:28:50.777Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nabu-arrests-sbu-general-operation-carthage tags: [ukraine, nabu, sbu, corruption, carthage-operation] author: "Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # NABU arrests SBU general during Operation Carthage: Case of 'protection' for fraudulent call centers ![Armed officers of the Ukrainian military counterintelligence detaining a person in a black hood.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/nabu-zaderzhala-generala-sbu-operaciya-kartagen/nabu-zaderzhala-generala-sbu-operaciya-kartagen-1.webp) ## Key Points - NABU arrested General Serhiy Duka, first deputy head of the SBU's national statehood protection department. - The arrest occurred during Operation Carthage, targeting a criminal organization that bribed officials to run fraudulent call centers. - NABU and SAPO released video evidence of 'protection' activities and links between the group and Russian special services. - According to RFI, searches are being conducted at three high-ranking SBU security officials. On November 4, 2026, officers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) arrested General Serhiy Duka, the first deputy head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Ukrainska Pravda. According to the publication, the arrest was carried out as part of the ongoing Operation Carthage, which has already drawn attention to the activities of a dismantled criminal organization involving high-ranking security officials. ### Carthage: The scale of the exposure The arrest of the SBU general came against the backdrop of new information disclosed about the criminal organization identified during Operation Carthage. According to NABU documents, members of the group systematically paid bribes to law enforcement officials in exchange for the unhindered operation of fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses. Thus, this is not an isolated incident but an established 'protection' scheme in which individuals from within security structures performed the function of protection. ### Protection by security forces and ties to special services Earlier, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, together with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, published new details and video recordings regarding the Carthage case. The disclosed materials feature episodes of 'protection' by security officials, as well as information about the group's ties to Russian special services and other circumstances of the case. According to RFI, NABU stated that heads of the SBU and police were covering up the activities of call centers and drug trafficking, which indicates a broad scope of the structure affected by the investigation. ### Searches within SBU structures As reported by RFI, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau is conducting searches of three high-ranking security officials from the SBU, including the first deputy head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood. This suggests that the investigation has moved beyond individual figures and involves several levels of management within the Security Service, making Operation Carthage one of the most high-profile anti-corruption cases of recent months. ### Context and resonance of the case The Carthage case continues to generate significant public resonance. According to UNIAN, the published recordings of conversations likely feature Serhiy Kryva among other participants, and the audio materials include statements about the intention to 'create an empire.' The publication of new tapes, additional high-profile details of the case, and the law enforcement response to the group's activities are covered in separate reports, allowing for the tracking of the investigation's progress as new episodes emerge. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [НАБУ задержало топгенерала СБУ в рамках операции "Карфаген"](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nabu-zatrimalo-topgenerala-sbu-mezhah-operatsiyi-1793808829.html) - Primary source: arrest of General Serhiy Duka; bribery scheme for call centers; evidence of 'protection' and links to Russian special services. - [НАБУ: Руководители СБУ и полиции покрывали колл-центры и торговлю наркотиками](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20261104-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83-%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%B1%D1%83-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BB-%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%80%D1%8B-%D0%B8-%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BB%D1%8E-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8) - Confirms NABU's position regarding SBU and police leadership covering up call center activities and drug trafficking. - [Украинское антикоррупционное бюро проводит обыски в СБУ](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20261104-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D0%B1%D1%8E%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%B1%D1%83) - Searches of three high-ranking SBU security officials, including the first deputy head of national statehood protection. - ["Было бы круто создать империю, как у шефа": НАБУ обнародовало записи по делу "Карфаген"](https://www.unian.net/incidents/delo-karfagen-nabu-obnarodovalo-zapisi-v-kotoryh-veroyatno-figuriruet-sergey-kropiva-13491282.html) - Publication of conversation recordings; likely featuring Serhiy Kryva; mention of an intention to 'create an empire'. ## FAQ ### Who did NABU arrest? NABU arrested General Serhiy Duka, first deputy head of the SBU's department for the protection of national statehood. ### Under which operation did the arrest take place? The arrest occurred during Operation Carthage, which exposed a criminal organization. ### What is the criminal group accused of? According to NABU, group members systematically bribed law enforcement officials to allow the smooth operation of fraudulent call centers and other illegal businesses. ### Are searches being conducted in the SBU? Yes, according to RFI, NABU is searching the premises of three high-ranking SBU officials, including the first deputy head of the national statehood protection department.