The Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has reported that over 70 warrantless searches targeting its employees were conducted by Ukrainian security services. The accusations range from road accidents to alleged links to Russia, according to a statement from the bureau.
According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian authorities have launched coordinated searches and inspections targeting NABU employees. These operations include raids by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Prosecutor General’s Office. This development has raised concerns among civil society organizations, which view it as part of a growing pattern of political interference in Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure. The timing coincides with heightened scrutiny of anti-corruption agencies and increased government sensitivity to allegations of internal sabotage.
NABU said that aside from allegations related to accidents, certain employees face "possible connections with the aggressor state," referring to Russia. However, the bureau maintains that these allegations are unrelated to the searches. The SSU also initiated an unscheduled inspection concerning access to state secrets, including sensitive covert operations at NABU and SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office), warning that this could compromise ongoing investigations.
Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, commented on these developments, saying they "reflect an ongoing culture of public corruption that must be fixed." He specifically named Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President, and President Volodymyr Zelensky as responsible for perpetuating systemic problems. Cortes argued that these events highlight persistent challenges within Ukraine’s leadership and urged greater scrutiny from the international community.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is an independent law enforcement agency established in October 2014 to investigate high-level corruption among public officials. It works in coordination with SAPO, which prosecutes cases initiated by NABU. Founded as a post-Euromaidan reform initiative, NABU employs approximately 700 staff members and remains central to Ukraine’s efforts to combat entrenched corruption.