--- title: "\"Smashing phones with an axe\": SAPO reveals details of SBU General Duka's arrest in the \"Carthage\" case" description: "SAPO prosecutor Mykola Karas told the court that SBU General Serhiy Duka spent about two hours during his arrest in the \"Carthage\" case destroying evidence by smashing phones with an axe while armed men obstructed the search." date: 2026-11-06T15:01:06.233Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sbu-duka-carthage-axe-phone-destruction tags: [sbu, carthage-case, corruption, ukraine, nabu, spp, court] author: "Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "Smashing phones with an axe": SAPO reveals details of SBU General Duka's arrest in the "Carthage" case ![SBU General Serhiy Duka sitting inside a glass courtroom enclosure during his hearing.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/06/sbu-duka-karfa-gen-razbival-telefony-toporom/sbu-duka-karfa-gen-razbival-telefony-toporom-1.webp) ## Key Points - SAPO prosecutor Mykola Karas stated that SBU General Serhiy Duka destroyed physical evidence by smashing mobile phones with an axe during his arrest. - According to the prosecution, armed individuals with laser sights and loaded weapons prevented NABU detectives from executing a court-ordered search for about two hours. - A criminal proceeding under Article 345 of the Criminal Code (resistance to law enforcement) has been registered; the investigation is ongoing. - Duka is a figure in the "Carthage" case, suspected of "protecting" a criminal organization that ran fraudulent call centers. - On November 6, 2026, the court is determining pre-trial restrictions: the prosecution is seeking arrest with a 100 million UAH bail option. On November 6, 2026, a court hearing is being held to determine the pre-trial restrictions for Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) General Serhiy Duka, First Deputy Head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood and a key figure in the high-profile "Carthage" case. During a break in the proceedings, Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) prosecutor Mykola Karas told reporters about the circumstances of the general's arrest, which he described as going far beyond a routine search. ### Two hours of armed resistance According to the SAPO prosecutor, detectives were unable to enter the premises where Duka was located for about two hours to conduct investigative actions. Karas stated that they were obstructed by armed individuals: "Armed people chambered rounds, aimed laser sights at NABU officers, and thereby prevented the execution of the investigating judge's search warrant." Thus, according to the prosecution, the investigation's access to the search site was blocked for a significant period of time. ### Phones destroyed with an axe During these two hours, the prosecutor claims, Duka was destroying physical evidence. "During these 2 hours, Duka was destroying physical evidence, including his mobile phones, with an axe," Karas noted. The prosecutor emphasized that this behavior was covered up by, as the defense put it, "some kind of security measures order." ### Legal assessment: the priority of court orders Mykola Karas pointed to a conflict in the application of standards: "This must also be evaluated, as no security measures order states that it takes precedence over an investigating judge's warrant." According to him, citing security measures cannot justify obstructing the execution of a court order for a search. ### New criminal proceeding under Article 345 of the Criminal Code In connection with the described circumstances, the prosecutor reported, a criminal proceeding has been registered with the State Bureau of Investigation under Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — resistance to law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and all circumstances, according to Karas, will be established. ### Context of the "Carthage" case and pre-trial measures Recall that Serhiy Duka is one of the defendants in the scandalous "Carthage" case. Law enforcement officers suspect that the SBU general was "protecting" a criminal group that, among other things, organized the operation of fraudulent call centers. At today's hearing, November 6, the prosecution is requesting Duka be remanded in custody with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 100 million hryvnias. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Разбивал телефоны топором. В САП раскрыли детали задержания генерала СБУ Дуки](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rozbivav-telefoni-sokiroyu-sap-rozkrili-detali-1793976784.html) - Primary source: Report from an RBK-Ukraine correspondent in the courtroom, citing SAPO prosecutor Mykola Karas. All details (axe, armed men, Art. 345 of the CC, 100 million UAH bail) are allegations by the prosecutor; there is no independent confirmation from the other side in the source. ## FAQ ### Who is Serhiy Duka and why is he in court? Serhiy Duka is the First Deputy Head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood of the SBU and a general of the Security Service. He is a defendant in the "Carthage" case. On November 6, 2026, a hearing on pre-trial restrictions is underway. ### What happened during Duka's arrest? According to SAPO prosecutor Mykola Karas, detectives were unable to enter the search location for two hours because armed men, as alleged by the prosecution, chambered rounds and aimed laser sights at NABU officers. During this time, Duka allegedly destroyed evidence, including smashing mobile phones with an axe. ### What are the consequences for Duka? A criminal proceeding has been registered with the State Bureau of Investigation under Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (resistance to law enforcement officers). The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. ### What is Duka accused of in the "Carthage" case? Law enforcement suspects that the SBU general was "protecting" a criminal group involved in organizing fraudulent call centers. ### What pre-trial measure is the prosecution requesting? The prosecution is requesting that Duka be held in custody with the option of posting bail in the amount of 100 million hryvnias.