Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau accused senior security and police officials on Thursday of belonging to a criminal organization that ran fraudulent call centers, sold drugs and produced counterfeit currency in an investigation code-named Operation Carthage.
NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) issued formal notices of suspicion to five people on Thursday. The accused include SBU Major General Serhiy Duka, National Police officer Demianchuk, first deputy head of the police Strategic Investigations Department Volodymyr Tsenov, Vitaliy Rybalka and Andriy Osipov. Investigators believe at least 12 people belonged to the organization.
The High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Tsenov held in pretrial detention for 60 days. Bail was set at 15 million hryvnyas ($330,000). The court ordered Rybalka, known as "Boxer," held for 60 days without bail. Rybalka told reporters the charges were "far-fetched."
Investigators allege Osipov, nicknamed "Criminal," ran the group alongside a Russian national code-named "Mexican." The Russian allegedly founded the Khimprom drug cartel and fled Russia for Ukraine. The organization allegedly coordinated 52 fraudulent call centers. It paid $7,000 in monthly bribes to keep each operating.
Duka, code-named "Akim," allegedly helped Osipov obtain data from government databases, information from criminal proceedings and assistance with court cases. Tsenov, code-named "Price," allegedly turned a blind eye to the call centers in exchange for payments. A Prosecutor-General's Office member code-named "Oskar" was also allegedly involved.
Wiretaps released by NABU and SAPO show suspects boasting about torturing people and sharing videos of hostages being beaten with hammers. The group allegedly planned attacks, kidnappings and infliction of bodily harm. Investigators said it planned to attack journalist Denis Bihus.
Following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 2026 directive to step up the fight against fraudulent call centers, Duka and Tsenov allegedly warned Osipov to either "shut down operations" or "go underground." The SBU dismissed officials suspected in the case. The National Police suspended officers against whom NABU took procedural measures.
Between 1,000 and 1,500 such call centers operate in Ukraine, employing approximately 60,000 people, according to expert estimates. Tens of thousands of people fall victim to call-center scams every year. The amount stolen from a victim's bank card can reach several thousand dollars in a single incident. In September 2026, the Verkhovna Rada increased penalties for call-center work to up to 12 years in prison.
