Deyneka Serhiy Volodymyrovych

Lieutenant General, former Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU), suspected of systematic bribery at the border

Career border guard officer: from 2011 to 2014 — head of the Luhansk Border Detachment, participated in battles in the Luhansk region in 2014–2015. Awarded two Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. In the summer of 2019, against the backdrop of personnel changes related to the new president, Deyneka was appointed head of the SBGSU, where he remained until early 2026; since April 30, 2024 — lieutenant general. During his leadership, the combat units “Hart” and “Pomsta” were created, border guards were among the first to widely use UAVs. At the same time, the SBGSU remained a major corruption feeder, especially on the western border.

Cigarette smuggling scheme through diplomats, bail and mobilization as a way to avoid trial

In December 2025, NABU detectives together with the SAP exposed a corruption scheme: officials systematically received undue benefits for facilitating illegal border crossings. Deyneka himself and several subordinates were suspected of allegedly creating, under the cover of the SBGSU, a smuggling ring that profited from illegal deliveries of cigarettes and other tobacco products to the EU — involving recruited family members of Ukrainian diplomats. On January 4, 2026, Zelensky dismissed Deyneka from his post. On January 22, NABU officially notified him of suspicion. On January 30, the High Anti-Corruption Court imposed a preventive measure — bail of 10 million UAH. Subsequently, Deyneka left military service by decision of the Military Medical Commission, reportedly due to injury consequences — and almost immediately was mobilized and appointed head of the Third Border Detachment (“Pomsta”), which he had led from 2011 to 2014. A NABU representative commented on this appointment succinctly: "Unfortunately, we can do nothing in this situation."