Oleg Sukhov

The violent standoff between Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and the military intelligence agency (HUR) on Sept. 2 exposed two dysfunctions of Ukraine's law enforcement and security system. One is the long-running conflict between the two intelligence agencies: although competition among secret services is common worldwide, shootouts that result in injuries are far more troubling than a routine institutional rivalry. The conflicts between Ukraine's two security agencies "have gotten out of co

The criminal organization is "involved in protecting a network of fraudulent call centers and laundering illicit assets," the NABU said.

The same day, the High Anti-Corruption Court set Hr 15 million bail for Sense Bank CEO Oleksiy Stupak but rejected prosecutors’ request to hold him in custody.

Fedorov said that, in this role, he "would help Italy develop modern warfare technologies, strengthen its defense sector, and adapt to emerging global security challenges."

The victim is reportedly Sergei Sechkov, an officer at Russia’s 332nd Separate Helicopter Regiment.

Transcripts included in the prosecutors' motions in the case explicitly state that Zelensky's Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov took part in the conversations, Hromadske reported.

Stolar fled abroad more than a month ago and faces the charges of organized crime, embezzlement, corporate raiding, forgery, and hacking.

A parliamentary committee on Aug. 21 defended its earlier decision to block five bills intended to strengthen the country's fight against corruption. The bills are requirements of the European Union, both to receive an estimated 2.1 billion euros ($2.45 billion) at the end of 2026, as well as to advance Kyiv's EU accession talks. The reforms seek to expand anti-corruption agencies' authority, reform the Prosecutor General's Office and the State Investigation Bureau, and repeal legislation that

This week's charges against Iryna Mudra, a presidential deputy chief of staff, and other suspects in a high-profile graft case marked the latest chapter in the corruption saga that has gripped Ukraine since last year. An investigation centered around state nuclear power monopoly Energoatom has prompted a political earthquake in Ukraine, becoming the biggest corruption case of President Volodymyr Zelensky's tenure. Specifically, the investigation led to the resignation of Zelensky's Chief of St

The tapes feature President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former Deputy Chief of Staff Iryna Mudra, lawmaker Vadym Stolar, and former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas, a law enforcement source told the Kyiv Independent.

Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi announced that the Finance Ministry has been instructed to sell Sense Bank and transfer the proceeds to the military.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is searching Mudra's premises, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told the Kyiv Independent on Aug. 19.

Editor's note: This story is being updated. Key takeaways: * Investigators release tapes implicating top officials in money laundering * The suspects include former presidential Deputy Chief of Staff Iryna Mudra, lawmaker Vadym Stolar, former lawmaker Maksym Mykytas, and top executives of state-owned Sense Bank * The suspects are accused of laundering Hr 150 million ($3.4 million) and transferring the funds through Sense Bank to post bail for former Justice and Energy Minister Herman Halush

Back in December, Ukraine agreed to a comprehensive package of rule-of-law reforms, as one of the steps needed to move forward with EU accession talks and secure necessary funding. Soon after the agreement was signed, the government deprioritized the promised reforms. "None of the crucial reforms related to the justice system, law enforcement, or anti-corruption have been implemented," Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center's executive board, told the Kyiv Independent. The

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's former ambassador to the U.S. and deputy prime minister for European integration, was widely regarded as an effective manager. But her involvement in several corruption investigations cast a shadow over her career and likely contributed to her dismissal as ambassador on Aug. 3. On Aug. 5, authorities charged Stefanishyna with illicit enrichment totaling Hr 13.9 million ($310,000) and filing false asset declarations. She denies the allegations. For critics of Presi