The Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation have carried out a joint special operation to detain a former chief of one of the SSU’s regional directorates.

The detainee will be served notice of suspicion of crimes under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• 255.1 (creation, managing of a criminal community or a criminal organization and participation in it);
• 111.1 (high treason);
• 27.5, 114.1 (assistance in handing over to or collection for a foreign state, foreign organization or their representatives of information constituting a state secret).

During the investigation of the criminal proceedings, the investigators uncovered information that could indicate that the detainee had been cooperating with russian special services. The information needs to be verified in a procedural manner in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine within a pre-trial investigation. Procedure-wise, the case is supervised by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

We’d like to emphasize: countering russian special services and their attempts to expand agent network in Ukrainian state authorities is one of the main areas of the SSU’s activity.

Targets of such investigations are also SSU employees, which proves that the SSU is self-cleansing. By exposing such cases and not covering them up, we are implementing a course to build a modern and effective special service capable of countering the strong enemy that threatens Ukraine’s state security.

The SSU employs thousands of honest and professional patriots, many of whom are now defending Ukraine at the front with weapons in their hands. We continue the course to cleanse the Service: traitors have no place in the SSU.