Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the Verkhovna Rada to immediately adopt a bill restoring mandatory asset declarations for all employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The head of state announced this in his Telegram channel, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. The statement came against the backdrop of a high-profile NABU investigation under Operation Carthage, which uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme involving high-ranking officials from several law enforcement agencies.
Reaction to the Carthage Investigation
Zelenskyy directly described the information that came to light this week as "frankly unpleasant, frankly shameful, and completely unacceptable." According to him, dismissals have already taken place within the SBU, with more personnel decisions ahead. The president emphasized that it is extremely vital for the investigation to reveal the entire truth, primarily regarding the masterminds behind crimes and acts of violence against citizens. "The perpetrators must not escape punishment under any circumstances," he stated.
Personnel Decisions in the SBU
Earlier it was reported that SBU Head Oleksandr Poklad dismissed two high-ranking Security Service officials who turned out to be figures in the Carthage case. In addition, a court chose a preventive measure for SBU General Duka in the same criminal proceedings. According to the president, these steps are only the beginning of a broader purge within the agency.
Asset Declaration Bill
"Today I approved a bill to restore declarations for all SBU employees so that their lifestyle and everything they own can be checked and they can be held accountable. The same applies to other bodies, not just law enforcement. I ask parliamentarians to adopt this law without delay," Zelenskyy stated. Thus, the president is raising the issue of restoring the anti-corruption mechanism for monitoring the property of special services employees, which previously operated on a broader scale.
Cross-Border Crime and International Cooperation
In his address, Zelenskyy also touched upon the topic of cross-border criminal activity related to the Carthage case. According to him, there is information that one of the figures has already launched operations in Poland and plans to enter the German market with synthetic drugs. The president noted that Ukraine is sharing all important information regarding this case with allies and that the issue has already been discussed with the American side at an appropriate level. "Results are needed," he emphasized.
Context of the Carthage Case
Earlier, NABU revealed new details of the investigation under Operation Carthage. According to the investigation, top officials of the SBU, the National Police, and the Prosecutor General's Office were "protecting" a criminal group that organized fraudulent call centers, engaged in drug trafficking, and committed other crimes. The scale of the revealed ties between security structures and organized crime has become one of the most resonant corruption scandals in Ukraine in recent times and has triggered a wave of personnel reshuffles in several agencies.
