Operation Carthage: anti-corruption authorities search home of Kyiv Oblast Police chief

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), who are carrying out Operation Carthage together, have conducted searches targeting Andrii Rubel, Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv Oblast and trusted associate of Deputy Head of the Office of the President Oleh Tatarov.

Source: Ukrainian newspaper Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (ZN.UA) with reference to sources

Details: Dzerkalo Tyzhnia source said that Rubel was not detained.

Investigators were likely interested in traces of Rubel's activities as head of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police (from 12 October 2022 to the end of April 2026).

For reference: In 2020-2021, Rubel served as head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kharkiv Oblast and prior to that worked in the police of Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, as well as in the Main Directorate for Combating Organised Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Criminal Investigation Department, Internal Security and Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

In 2019, Rubel took part in a competition for the position of head of the Internal Control Department of the State Bureau of Investigation, but failed the test on knowledge of legislation, answering fewer than half of the questions correctly.

According to Rubel's asset declaration, he purchased a 171 sq m apartment in Kyiv in 2018 for UAH 3.9 million (about US$85,700). However, as Bihus.Info journalists discovered, at the time of purchase, the market value of the apartment was significantly higher than declared by the police officer. It was also noted that the majority of the amount (about US$120,000) was gifted to Andrii Rubel on the eve of the transaction by his father, Mykola Rubel, who also served in law enforcement agencies. Journalists also calculated that Mykola Rubel's official income over 20 years amounted to only around US$82,000.

Furthermore, in addition to the money for the apartment, Rubel Senior also purchased two Audi cars, which he handed over to his son for use.

Rubel's mother-in-law also turned out to be very wealthy. Journalists found in her ownership Honda CR-V and Porsche Cayenne, a house in the village of Vita-Poshtova near Kyiv and 0.43 acres of land in a resort zone of the Carpathians. Media outlets also established that the owners of adjacent plots of this land were relatives of Rubel's colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Previously: UP sources in law enforcement agencies reported that anti-corruption authorities had detained Volodymyr Tsenov, First Deputy Head of the National Police's Strategic Investigations Department, following the publication of new material in the Carthage case. On the wiretaps, he is referred to as "Price".

Background:

• On the morning of 4 November, NABU conducted searches targeting Anton Kravchuk, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine's Main Department of Internal Security.
• NABU reported earlier that in the course of court-mandated searches, one of the senior SSU officials under investigation threatened to use firearms and denied detectives access to the search location. UP sources reported that the official in question was General Serhii Duka, First Deputy Head of the SSU's Department for the Protection of National Statehood.
• Duka was later detained by NABU officers.
• Members of the criminal organisation exposed as part of Operation Carthage had planned to carry out a violent attack on investigative journalist Denys Bihus because of a Bihus.Info investigation into U420, a retail chain which sold narcotics.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.