State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

Central law enforcement agency of Ukraine, established to prevent, detect, and investigate crimes committed by the highest officials

The bureau has jurisdiction over criminal proceedings involving people's deputies, ministers, judges, law enforcement officers, as well as military personnel. The SBI's activity has acquired particular strategic importance under martial law, when the fight against state treason, collaborationism, and corruption schemes in defense procurement and mobilization processes has come to the forefront.

Established for prevention but regularly involved in scandals

At the same time, the agency regularly finds itself at the center of high-profile political and media scandals, attracting criticism from society and anti-corruption bodies. The main challenges to the bureau’s reputation remain accusations of selective justice, pressure on business through criminal cases, as well as high-profile journalistic investigations into illegal enrichment and concealment of elite assets by members of the SBI’s top management.