Wave of raids on high-profile officials are “blow to internal enemy” – Ukraine’s security chief.

Currently, dozens of searches are being conducted in various regions of Ukraine, and suspicions are being served to “persons who pose a threat to the security of the state in various areas.”

This was stated by Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) director Vasyl Maliuk, who announced new information regarding operational and investigative measures, according to the agency’s press service.

“Today, the Security Service of Ukraine, along with colleagues from the security forces, is conducting a number of large-scale operational and investigative operations to combat the internal enemy,” the statement read.

According to Maliuk, the SBU is attempting to identify individuals “who threaten the security of the state in various spheres: traitors to Ukraine and agents of Russian special services; representatives of organized crime; officials and corrupt officials who undermine the country’s economy and the stable operation of the military-industrial complex, and so on.”

According to the head of the SBU, the agency is carrying out President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s directives while simultaneously delivering a global blow against the internal enemy.

“Indicative of this are the extensive searches, suspicions, and detentions of criminals of varying severity. This is just the beginning of the Security Service’s extensive and systematic efforts. We have no intention of stopping! We will cuff the hands of any criminal who has the audacity to harm Ukraine, particularly in times of war. The SBU will exert every effort in this regard,”Malyuk highlighted.

He added that the SBU is currently informing the public about the outcomes of today’s activities and will continue to do so in the coming days due to the volume of information.

Today, on 1 February, Ukrainian security forces and law enforcement officers executed a series of searches and served notices of suspicion to various officials.

In particular, Counterintelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) investigators have uncovered new evidence of criminal activity by Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, the president of Motor Sich, who is already suspected of working for Russia. He has received a second notice of suspicion.

The Security Service of Ukraine and the Bureau of Economic Security searched the Dnipro residence of oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi.

As well, the Prosecutor General’s Office served notices of suspicion to:

• Bohdan Khmelnytskyi , former Deputy Director of the Defense Ministry’s public procurement department,
• Viacheslav Shapovalov , former Deputy Defence Minister;
• and Volodymyr Tereshchenko , former Deputy Director of the state-owned company Promoboronexport

Former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov’s residence was raided by the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation.

On 1 February, the SSU also searched the residence of Vadym Stolar , a Kyiv real estate developer and member of the banned, Russian-backed Opposition Platform – For Life party.

Additionally, the State Bureau of Investigation conducted searches of the tax authorities in Kyiv .

Additionally, the SBU detained an employee of Ukraine’s state weapons concern Ukroboronprom who is accused of correcting Russian artillery fire and leaking information on the Ukrainian Army and its weapons to the Russians.

Employee of Ukraine’s state weapons concern detained on accusation of treason

Amid the searches, several high-ranking officials were dismissed, including the top management of the Customs Service.

Ukrainian customs management, other officials sacked amid wave of security raids

They come one week after a string of officials, including the Deputy Defense Minister, resigned in the wake of corruption allegations.

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