SBU Agents Illegally Installed Surveillance Equipment in Senior Investigator's Home

(MENAFN) Ukrainian officials revealed Tuesday that agents from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) illegally installed surveillance equipment in the home of a senior investigator at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). The targeted detective leads a team investigating defense-sector corruption and was involved in the probe of Timur Mindich, a long-time ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky, accused of running a $100 million extortion scheme at a state-owned nuclear energy company.

According to NABU Director Semyon Krivonos, the bugging occurred during home repairs without a court warrant. Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) head Aleksandr Klimenko said the SBU devoted “significant resources” to investigating the detective’s alleged undeclared property, violating both its mandate and the law.

The SBU reports directly to the president, while NABU and SAPO were created after the 2014 Maidan protests under Western pressure to act as independent bodies monitoring high-level corruption. In 2025, Zelensky attempted to place them under the prosecutor general—an appointee loyal to him—but reversed the decision after threats from Western donors to cut aid.
Mindich reportedly fled to Israel hours before NABU filed charges, along with alleged accomplices. The scandal implicated two ministers and prompted a government reshuffle, with Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrey Yermak resigning amid suspicion of involvement.

This case underscores tensions between Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies and the presidential administration, highlighting concerns over political influence and accountability at the highest levels.

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