NABU Under Fire: Anti-Corruption or Controlled Detonation?

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Several NABU detectives were subjected to searches without court orders, accompanied by the public release of humiliating photos online. Officials claimed this was part of efforts to neutralize Russian influence within NABU. But what exactly was behind this controversial operation?

Well, let’s consider the probabilities—a very subjective assessment.

50% probability: This is a cover-up operation aimed at disrupting the BEB competition. There is a letter concerning the Russian threat from the winner, who is from NABU. NABU reportedly has an entire network of Russian agents. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent a NABU detective from becoming the head of BEB.

25% probability: This is an attack on NABU, which has already gained independence by getting close to respectable and loyal people.

24% probability: This is NABU’s revenge because we currently do not have a Ministry of Unity.

1% probability: A network of Russian agents operates within NABU, acting as a single entity and working for the enemy.

A very subjective assessment. And I want to believe in something good, especially during wartime. That the war and confrontation with Russia will not be used hypocritically. I want to believe that we will soon see clear evidence of a network of interconnected NABU detectives.

But those persistent questions creep back into my head. Especially given how often accusations of “working for the enemy” are now used by security agencies to pressure businesses.

Of course, one of the NABU detectives may have been compromised—perhaps even involved in selling cannabis or passing it to the enemy. That’s alarming. But did they discover this just now? Is there an actual network? Or did they simply dig up old compromising material to fulfill a political order?

Why is “Russian influence” specifically tied to NABU? Why don’t we hear about Russian influence in other institutions when someone connected to the enemy is caught? Yet with NABU, it’s immediately framed as systemic. And if the only thing these people have in common is that they work at NABU, then why were they all searched on the same morning?

It feels staged, like opening a new bridge exactly on City Day. It could have opened earlier. Or it should have been delayed because it wasn’t ready. But it had to be that day. Eighty searches, all at once. Eighty.

Is this simply a way to offer society—and our Western partners—some kind of explanation for why the BEB competition failed? Is the sudden exposure of a supposed network of agents in NABU a rushed attempt to justify it? And does blocking reforms now somehow pass as a patriotic, statist move?

We remind you that the SBU, SBI, and Prosecutor General’s Office employees conducted at least 70 searches of NABU employees. Investigative actions are carried out without court orders. In the vast majority of cases, the reasons are the participation of individuals in road accidents, but some employees are accused of possible ties with the aggressor country. These facts are not interconnected, NABU claims.

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office also stated that the Security Service of Ukraine, without official warning, came to them to check compliance with the legislation on state secrets and received access to information about all measures and special operations conducted by the NABU and the SAPO.

Meanwhile, the SBU reported that they had exposed the business in Russia of one of the heads of the interregional departments of NABU detectives. According to the case materials, this high-ranking official has contacts with representatives of the aggressor country and is helping his entrepreneur father conduct illegal trade with Russia.

Instead, Transparency International Ukraine stated that pressure on the anti-corruption bodies of Ukraine and attempts by the authorities to interfere in their work are unacceptable. They emphasize that on July 21, the SBU, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation conducted mass searches of NABU detectives and an inspection of the SAPO without court decisions. According to the organization, the main goal of such actions is an attempt to influence the activities of NABU and SAPO.

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