On January 22, 2026, the NABU and the SAPO served notices of suspicion on the former head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and two other individuals—the head of a unit at one border crossing point and a former State Border Service official. This likely concerns Serhii Deineko, whose searches were reported by a number of Ukrainian media outlets. They are suspected of systematically receiving unlawful benefits in exchange for facilitating unhindered crossings of the state border. 

According to investigators, in 2023, State Border Service officials were involved in a scheme to smuggle cigarettes to EU countries using vehicles registered in the Czech Republic and Austria, with license plates resembling diplomatic plates. The passengers in these vehicles were relatives of Ukrainian diplomats who held diplomatic passports, which allowed them to avoid inspection in EU countries. The passengers in these vehicles were relatives of Ukrainian diplomats who held diplomatic passports, which allowed them to avoid inspection in EU countries.    

Investigators say that from July to November 2023, the border guards received about EUR 204,000 in unlawful benefits for allowing 68 vehicles to pass (EUR 3,000 per vehicle). These were not random people: it has been established that senior SBGS officials previously served together with the diplomats whose relatives later became participants in the scheme. 

The suspects’ actions are classified under Article 368(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.