NABU issues suspicion notice to ex-chief of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service Deineko

A suspicion notice has been issued against the former head of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) and the head of a border checkpoint department. This was reported by the SAPO, Ukrinform says.

“Under the procedural supervision of an SAPO prosecutor, detectives issued suspicion notices to a former senior official and a current official of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, who were caught systematically receiving illegal benefits to facilitate the unhindered crossing of the state border. This concerns: a general, former head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine; the head of a border checkpoint department of the SBGS; and a former SBGS official,” the SAPO stated.

The actions of the suspects have been qualified under Part 4, Article 27 and Part 4, Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The pre-trial investigation established that in 2023, with the assistance of SBGS officials, a group of individuals organized the illegal transfer of cigarettes across the Ukrainian border to the EU.

“For their illegal activities, these individuals used vehicles registered in the Czech Republic and Austria, on which they installed special license plates resembling diplomatic ones. The passengers of these vehicles were holders of diplomatic passports – family members of Ukrainian diplomats in Europe,” the SAPO reported.

It is noted that this allowed them to avoid inspections by border and customs authorities in EU countries.

Law enforcement stated that, in turn, SBGS officials ensured the unhindered crossing of the border to and from Ukraine.

It was documented that from July to November 2023, the border guards received approximately €204,000 in illicit benefits for the passage of 68 vehicles (around €3,000 per vehicle).

Additionally, it was revealed that some SBGS officials had previously served alongside the diplomats whose relatives later participated in this scheme. The investigation is ongoing.

The NABU stated that a decision on preventive measures for the suspects is currently being considered.

Earlier, media reported that the NABU and the SAPO conducted searches at the residence of former State Border Guard Service head Serhii Deineko.

Lieutenant General Deineko led the SBGS from 2019 to 2026.