Overhaul search operations in the National Guard of Ukraine: what you need to know about the latest events and the official comment from the Prosecutor’s Office
On May 12, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities once again drew public attention to a large-scale anti-corruption campaign by conducting multiple investigative actions simultaneously within the structure of the National Guard. On this day, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) issued an official statement regarding the situation, stating that they would not disclose details of the investigative procedures, instead focusing solely on the results of the collected evidence. According to the information published in the SAPO press release, the provocations and investigative measures concerned high-ranking officials of the National Guard. However, law enforcement emphasizes that conducting searches or other investigative procedures does not automatically imply guilt of any individual in a criminal offense. They describe this as standard practice for gathering evidence, part of the process of verifying hypotheses and establishing the truth. Only after obtaining sufficient testimonies and documents can investigators and prosecutors formally suspect specific individuals. The official statement highlights: “We do not comment on the progress or results of investigative actions in our criminal proceedings so as not to hinder objectivity of the investigation. Information about the outcomes will be made available only when enough evidence has been gathered to notify individuals of suspicion.” As indicated by official reports, the outcomes of the investigations and further procedural decisions by SAPO and NABU will be disclosed in accordance with the law. This underlines the importance of an objective and balanced approach to reporting the situation in society, as well as the government’s commitment to transparency in combating corruption. What preceded these events? According to sources within law enforcement agencies, on May 9–10, searches were carried out within the National Guard, including at the homes of several high-ranking personnel, to seize documents and evidence of potential abuses. According to media reports and sources from ZN.UA, investigative actions targeted several key figures in the structural management of the National Guard. Specifically, law enforcement visited the homes of the National Guard Commander — Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, as well as the heads of the logistics department — Colonels Serhii Hrytsenko, Mykola Modlinsky, and the head of the motor vehicle and armored vehicle management — Olexander Kalatynets. Investigators also arrived at the residence of the head of the Accommodation and Capital Construction Department — Colonel Denys Hanaz, and the head of the Central Production and Technological Equipment Base of the National Guard — Colonel Volodymyr Fedorovskyi. As media explained, the investigation is ongoing within the framework of a corruption scheme that attracted particular attention from law enforcement due to suspicions of abuses that could have resulted in illicit gains amounting to nearly 190 million hryvnias. It has been established that the suspects might have received these funds through facilitation of procurement processes for the National Guard’s Production and Technological Equipment Center. According to journalists, the investigation concerns several specific cases — including the purchase of a 2023 Toyota RAV-4 vehicle and a non-residential premises exceeding 70 square meters in Kyiv. Suspicion centers on the likelihood that these services and property were acquired as part of a money-based corruption scheme potentially linked to illegal decision-making regarding procurement and contracts. Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation, and no official confirmation or refutation of specific charges has yet been made public. It is important to note that law enforcement agencies emphasize that the investigative actions are purely exploratory and evidentiary in nature, and do not imply guilt of any individual until the process is complete. Overall, this series of searches represents one of the most serious efforts in the fight against corruption within the security and defense sector, indicating strengthened internal control and the authorities’ determination to finally draw conclusions in this long-standing battle against abuses in the field. The expectations are clear: resolving this case should demonstrate to society and international partners that Ukraine is committed to reforming the security sector and combating corruption, even within its highest structures.