The NABU and the SAPO have uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme within the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS). High-ranking officials of the agency had established a systematic mechanism for receiving bribes in exchange for the unhindered smuggling of goods across the state border.
Key figures have now been formally notified of suspicion, including:
- Serhii Deineko, former Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, General,
- Oleksandr Marushchak, former head of a department at one of the SBGS checkpoints, and
- A former employee of the border service.
The actions of the suspects have been classified under Article 27(4) and Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Serhii Deineko headed the SBGS from June 2019 to January 2026. Prior to his appointment, he served in various units of the SBGS, including extensive experience in operational and investigative divisions, and served as Deputy Head of the Eastern and Southern Regional Directorates. On January 4, 2026, Deineko was appointed as an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs. At the same time, he was serving in a State Border Guard Service combat unit, but in early February 2026, Deineko was discharged from military service following a military medical commission decision finding him unfit for service.
According to detectives, in 2023, a group of individuals organized a channel for the illegal supply of tobacco products from Ukraine to EU countries.
For transportation, vehicles with Czech and Austrian license plates were used, and special plates visually resembling diplomatic license plates were installed on the vehicles. The passengers in these cars were family members of Ukrainian diplomats who hold diplomatic passports. This allowed the vehicles to avoid detailed inspections by both Ukrainian customs and their EU counterparts. In addition, detectives discovered that top SBGS officials had previously served alongside the diplomats whose relatives later participated in the scheme.
The unhindered passage of vans carrying cigarettes was ensured by senior SBGS officials, who received a fixed “fee” for each vehicle. Between July and November 2023 alone, law enforcement documented 68 vehicles transporting smuggled goods. For each such vehicle, border guards received EUR 3,000. The total amount of confirmed bribes for this short period reached at least EUR 204,000.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, on January 22, 2026, the NABU and the SAPO conducted searches at Serhii Deineko's residence. On the same day, the individuals involved in the scheme were served with notices of suspicion.
On January 30, the HACC partially granted the prosecutor's motion, applying an interim measure to Serhii Deineko in the form of bail set at UAH 10 million. Bail for Oleksandr Marushchak, the former head of a State Border Guard Service checkpoint unit, was set at UAH 2 million. In addition, a number of procedural obligations were imposed on the suspects, including the surrender of their international passports.
