NABU Says Senior SBU Official Threatened Firearm Use and Blocked Search

In brief

• NABU says a senior SBU official threatened detectives with a firearm and blocked them from a search site on 4 November.
• SBU special forces also arrived at the scene, which NABU called unacceptable.
• Sources identify the official as General Serhiy Duka; the SBU confirmed searches of its employees but did not address the threat claim.

Standoff During Search

NABU reported that, while detectives were carrying out lawful investigative actions under a warrant from the High Anti-Corruption Court, a senior SBU official threatened to use a firearm and did not allow the detectives to reach the search location (НАБУ: високопосадовець СБУ погрожує зброєю та не допускає детективів до місця обшуку – Suspilne) (У НАБУ заявили, що високопосадовець СБУ погрожує вогнепальною зброєю і перешкоджає детективам провести обшук – Espreso) (НАБУ: Високопосадовець СБУ погрожує застосуванням зброї та перешкоджає проведенню обшуку – Українська правда). The agency said SBU special forces also came to the scene (Погрози зброєю і спецпризначенці: НАБУ заявило про силове перешкоджання обшуку з боку СБУ – TSN). NABU described these actions as unacceptable and as an obstruction of its detectives' legal duties. The bureau said further details would be released later.

Search Targets

Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the official concerned is General Serhiy Duka, first deputy head of the department for protection of national statehood at the SBU (НАБУ прийшло з обшуками до ще одного топпосадовця СБУ – джерела – Українська правда) (УП отримала кадри обшуків у генерала СБУ – Українська правда). Ukrainska Pravda also reported that searches were planned at the head of the SBU's Main Directorate of Internal Security, Colonel Anton Kravchuk, and that the searches were linked to a case involving Andriy Osipov, known as "Kryminal", whom NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office had detained earlier.

SBU Response

The SBU confirmed that NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office were searching its employees and said the actions were part of several criminal proceedings and court orders (СБУ відреагувала на обшуки антикорупційників – Українська правда). The service said it supports an objective and impartial investigation and cooperates with procedural actions. It did not comment on NABU's claim about the threat of gunfire or the blocked access.

Images From the Scene

Ukrainska Pravda said it received photos and video from the scene of the search at General Duka's premises, showing NABU officers near his home on 4 November.