Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies have completed reconnaissance work under the special operation "Carthage," during which a criminal organization was exposed that systematically received bribes from fraudulent call centers and was involved in laundering millions of illegally obtained hryvnias. According to the investigation, the scheme was organized by one of the heads of structural units of the Office of the Prosecutor General, who in mid-2025 established and led a group, drawing in active prosecutors and persons close to him. The operation became public on September 4, when it was first disclosed that a special operation was underway to expose a criminal organization headed by an official of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
The "Umbrella" Scheme for Fraudulent Call Centers
According to the investigation, members of the group established a systematic flow of bribes in exchange for allowing fraudulent call centers to operate without interference. Such structures, the investigation notes, mass-defrauded people, including both Ukrainian citizens and foreigners. In essence, this amounts to an "umbrella" over illegal activity provided by officials empowered within the law enforcement system, which significantly raises the profile of the case and raises questions about systemic risks within the Office of the Prosecutor General.
How the Millions Were Laundered
The funds obtained illegally were laundered by the suspects through various schemes. According to NABU and SAP, the head of the group concealed assets with a minimum market value of about 12 million hryvnias by re-registering them in the names of third parties; among the concealed assets was real estate in a popular apartment complex near the Carpathians. In addition, more than 10 million hryvnias were placed by members of the organization into bank accounts of close associates, disguising these funds as legitimate income from alleged business activities. The totality of these operations, according to the investigation, indicates a well-structured system for whitewashing income obtained from bribery.
Five Suspects and the Applicable Criminal Code Articles
Law enforcement agencies exposed five members of the criminal organization. Their actions have been preliminarily classified under Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — establishing and leading a criminal organization or participating in it — and under Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — laundering (legalization) of property obtained by criminal means. Investigative actions are ongoing: law enforcement agencies are identifying other possible members of the criminal organization, indicating that the list of suspects may expand further.
Context: Tightening of Penalties for Call Centers
The exposure coincided with a public statement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who the day before announced that Ukraine is preparing to tighten penalties for organizing fraudulent call centers. Thus, Operation "Carthage" fits into a broader context of strengthening the fight against telephone fraud and the corrupt "umbrella" over such schemes. Official materials of the operation, including footage of investigative actions, have been published by NABU and SAP.
