Back
Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
4 September 2026 of this year, NABU and SAP exposed a special operation called “Carthage” to uncover a criminal organization allegedly led by a official from the Office of the Prosecutor General. Law enforcement links the group’s activity to possible shielding of a network of fraudulent call centers and legalization of property obtained by criminal means. During investigative actions, Serhiy Kropiva — deputy head of the International Legal Cooperation Department of the OPG — was detained, Ukrainian media reported, citing sources.
What is known about the Carthage operation NABU and SAP announced the exposure of an organized group that, according to the investigation, could have involved a prosecutor from the Office of the Prosecutor General. The main version is that the group provided protection for the activities of fraudulent call centers, and may have engaged in laundering property obtained through criminal activity. At the time of the first disclosures, law enforcement did not reveal the full structure of the organization, its size, or all possible suspects. Nor were all circumstances of the proceedings publicly detailed, so statements about specific roles of participants must remain within the investigation’s version. As part of the operation, NABU released a fragment of materials from the criminal proceedings. In the recording, one of the defendants speaks about creating a large “empire” and a “kingdom.” The recording is part of the evidentiary base presented by the investigation, but its content by itself does not establish the guilt of a particular person nor reveal the entire structure of the possible criminal association. Read also: Schemes Nikitas and Stolara: how the “FEMIDA” case is arranged Serhiy Kropiva: what is known about the detained The report of Serhiy Kropiva’s detention was conveyed by RBC-Ukraine and Ukrainska Pravda citing their own sources. He was described as the deputy head of the Department of International Legal Cooperation of the Office of the Prosecutor General. Kropiva has experience in cybersecurity and the law enforcement system. Previously he worked in Cyberpolice. In 2022 year, Kropiva headed one of the OGP departments whose activities were related, among other things, to countering cybercrime and economic offenses. Later he served as deputy head of the Odesa regional state administration for digital development, digital transformations and digitalization. In the Ukrainska Pravda article it was also noted that in 2022 year Kropiva was appointed to a leadership position in the OPG without a competition. The publication also drew attention to his prior professional contacts with representatives of the law enforcement system. At the same time, these circumstances themselves do not prove involvement in criminal activity and cannot replace evidence in a criminal proceeding. It is precisely Kropiva’s professional background that makes him an important figure for understanding the investigation’s version: it concerns the possible use of official powers by a person who had experience working with cybercrime. Whether such use occurred in fact will be determined by the investigation. What is known about the investigative actions in OPG The Office of the Prosecutor General confirmed that investigative actions were conducted concerning its employee. The department stated its readiness to provide NABU and SAP with the necessary information and to assist the investigation. The OPG also reported that the official under investigation would be suspended from performing duties. A separate part of the information space consisted of reports of possible searches of prosecutors’ leadership. OPG spokesperson Maryana Haivovska denied reports of searches of the Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. At the same time, Ukrainska Pravda, citing its own sources, reported about investigative actions concerning Kravchenko, his deputy Maria Vdovichenko, and the head of Odesa regional military administration Oleg Kipera. Thus, at the time of publication there were mutually contradictory reports, and these episodes cannot be presented as established facts without additional official confirmation. This discrepancy is important for assessing the Carthage scale. The confirmed is the investigative actions against an OPG employee and his detention. Information about other possible searches requires separate verification. What scale of the problem with fraudulent call centers The Carthage operation occurs against the backdrop of a broad crackdown on illegal call centers. According to the OPG, over the previous 12 months, law enforcement conducted more than 1050 searches, stopped the activities of about 340 illegal call centers, and blocked over 5000 operator workplaces. As part of related investigations, 147 criminal proceedings are involved. More than 183 people have been notified of suspicions, and indictments against 93 individuals have already been sent to court. The victims’ losses are estimated in tens of millions of hryvnias. The issue also has an international dimension. Joint investigative groups involving 37 were involved, coordinated by Eurojust with the support of Europol. This is because fraudulent call centers may operate with victims and financial infrastructure in different countries. A separate line of such cases involves fake investment platforms, phishing for bank data, and the use of so-called “drops.” However, automatically transferring these characteristics to the specific scheme being investigated under Carthage is not correct yet: its mechanism must be established by the investigation. What the investigation must establish The main question of Carthage is not the mere existence of illegal call centers — their scale is already being tracked by the police. The key will be proving or disproving the version that certain officials could have ensured their activity or protected them from criminal liability. To assess this version, it will be crucial to establish: all participants in the possible criminal association; the division of roles among its members; documents and official decisions that could have been used for possible “protection”; financial operations and the origin of property; records of negotiations and contacts between officials and call center representatives; evidence of possible interference in the work of law enforcement agencies. Equally important is distinguishing procedural statuses. The detention of a person does not automatically prove guilt. The final assessment of the evidence in a criminal proceeding must be given by a court. Conclusion
“Carthage” stands out because the investigation into fraudulent call centers intersects directly with the system of the prosecutor’s offices. It is now confirmed that a special operation was conducted, investigative actions were taken against an OPG employee, and Serhiy Kropiva was detained, while the detailed structure of the possible criminal association and the roles of other individuals remain under investigation. Precisely the evidence of possible official assistance to the call centers, financial ties, and the identification of all participants will determine whether Carthage will become a large-scale operation or a case with a proven organized scheme in court.
Read the Phrase in Google News (click “Subscribe”)
Subscribe to Phrase channels on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Операція НАБУ «Карфаген»: як справа кол-центрів привела до Офісу генпрокурора". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Fraza.
