NABU focused on exposing current officials in Ukraine

Brief retelling from RIA II

The head of the NABU detective unit, Alexander Abakumov, said that the bureau’s work is focused on exposing current Ukrainian officials.

In the summer of 2025, the confrontation between NABU and Vladimir Zelensky escalated when representatives of the agency conducted searches of several people from the president’s circle and the SAPO opened criminal cases.

According to Abakumov, NABU now has enough experience to focus on catching criminals red-handed, and not just investigating corruption cases of past years.

MOSCOW, September 10 - RIA Novosti. The work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is focused on exposing current Ukrainian officials, said the head of the department’s detective division, Alexander Abakumov.

The confrontation between NABU and Vladimir Zelensky escalated in the summer of 2025, when representatives of the agency conducted searches of several prominent people in his circle, and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) opened criminal cases. In response, deputies loyal to Zelensky attempted to deprive Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies of independence. However, the protests that swept across the country and severe pressure from European partners forced Zelensky to back down and return NABU and SAP to their previous status.

As Abakumov told the Financial Times, at the initial stage, NABU was primarily involved in investigating corruption cases of past years, rather than suppressing existing schemes. However, the department now has enough experience to focus on catching criminals red-handed, he added.

“We suppress the activities of current officials without waiting for their removal from office,” Abakumov said.

As the publication notes, political elites in Ukraine are wondering with bated breath who will be the next person involved in the investigations.