Former Ukraine Cyber Chief Illia Vitiuk Faces Corruption Charges Amid Agency Conflict
Published
- Cybersecurity chief accused: Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Bureau accused the former SBU cybersec chief in an anti-corruption action.
- Illia Vitiuk charges: NABU alleges illicit enrichment through undeclared property acquisitions that exceeded family revenue.
- Undeclared: Vitiuk reportedly purchased property at a declared value of approximately half of the real one in 2023.
Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has filed corruption charges against Illia Vitiuk, the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) cybersecurity unit, intensifying a broader institutional conflict over anti-corruption enforcement within critical government agencies.
Criminal Allegations and Financial Discrepancies
NABU investigators allege Vitiuk and his family engaged in illicit enrichment through undeclared property acquisitions significantly exceeding their legitimate government salaries. The anti-corruption investigation centers on a December 2023 apartment purchase in Kyiv, valued at UAH 21.6 million (around US $525,000), which Vitiuk's family declared at approximately half the actual transaction amount.
Prosecutors contend the funding originated from an individual accused of embezzling state railway assets, with payments allegedly made through fictitious consulting arrangements.
NABU maintains that insufficient evidence exists demonstrating legitimate services provided by Vitiuk's wife to justify the substantial financial transfers involved in the property acquisition.
The charges encompass false asset declaration violations, requiring Ukrainian officials to publicly disclose their comprehensive wealth holdings under mandatory transparency protocols established for government personnel in sensitive national security positions.
Institutional Retaliation Claims
In a statement released on the same day, the SBU claimed Vitiuk was prosecuted “in retaliation” for the security service’s detention of several NABU employees this year. The SBU has characterized the prosecution as "revenge" for its July detention of senior NABU personnel suspected of Russian intelligence collaboration.
It also mentions the investigation reportedly ignored that experts’ conclusion opposed the purchase of a home at a reduced price, that NACC’s conclusion lacked illegal enrichment proof, and numerous witnesses’ testimonies contradicting “the version of the prosecution side.”
The security service claims the charges represent "selective justice" on the part of NABU and SAP.
However, anti-corruption advocates dispute these assertions, noting investigative journalism exposed Vitiuk's financial irregularities over eighteen months prior to the current institutional disputes.
Systemic Cybersecurity Governance Issues
The Ukraine cybersecurity scandal extends beyond individual misconduct, highlighting broader governance vulnerabilities within critical national security infrastructure. Vitiuk's dismissal in May 2024 followed extensive investigative reporting revealing substantial real estate holdings inconsistent with declared government compensation.
Additional controversies surrounding Vitiuk include allegations of attempting to conscript the journalist who initially exposed his financial irregularities, which could demonstrate potential abuse of official authority for personal retaliation purposes.
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