A Ukrainian court is considering the case of Serhiy Kropyva, head of the cyber department of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. The investigation suspects him of involvement in a criminal organisation linked to the operation of call centres. The court hearing materials have revealed an episode connected with Kazakhstan and international legal cooperation.
WHAT IS SAID ABOUT KAZAKHSTAN
As reported by Suspline Kharkiv, during the court hearing a representative of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) spoke about a conversation between Kropyva and Bohdan Boiko, president of FC Kharkiv, which took place on 5 May 2026.
According to the prosecution's version, Kropyva spoke about the need to find someone who would file a formal application. This could subsequently serve as the basis for a request under international legal cooperation with Kazakhstan. The SAPO prosecutor linked this episode to an attempt to remove a competitor who, according to the investigation, was obstructing the organisation's activities.
"Those Kazakhs called – they are ready to deal with this 'bad man'. But they want us to approach them with an international legal request. If we can find some person who will write an application here, we just need to think about what kind – through advertising or something else – let's get it going. Think about it, find someone," Kropyva said.
Who exactly in Kazakhstan may have been in contact with the Ukrainian side has not been specified.
HOW KROPYVA ENDED UP AT THE CENTRE OF THE INVESTIGATION
On 4 September 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAPO announced a special operation called "Carthage". According to the investigation, the criminal organisation was led by one of the heads of structural units of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
According to information from Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and the media, those under investigation are suspected of receiving undue advantage in exchange for not interfering with the activities of call centres.
On 6 September, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) sent Kropyva into custody with the option of bail set at UAH 120 million (approximately KZT 1.23 billion). The prosecution asked for bail to be set at UAH 200 million (approximately KZT 2.05 billion).
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT BOHDAN BOIKO
During the HACC hearing, the prosecution also publicly disclosed materials from conversations between Kropyva and Bohdan Boiko, president of FC Kharkiv. According to the investigation, Boiko was linked to a network of call centres.
Boiko himself publicly denied any involvement in illegal activities. In an official statement, he emphasised that a person being mentioned in criminal case materials does not in itself prove their guilt.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE JOINT OPERATION
Previously, Kazakhstan and Ukraine had already cooperated on cases related to the activities of call centres. On 31 March 2026, in the city of Dnipro, the activities of three call centres operating against citizens of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and countries of the European Union were shut down.
The results of the operation were reported by Zhandos Suyinbay, head of the Department for Combating Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result, 53 foreign citizens were detained, of whom 8 were arrested.
The Kazakhstan connection also appears in the case materials of Serhiy Kropyva, where, according to the prosecution, the use of the mechanism of international cooperation with Kazakhstan was discussed. Thus, the same link emerges in two separate episodes – Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the activities of call centres.
CONTEXT
Previously, NABU and SAPO reported on a special operation to expose an alleged criminal organisation in which, according to law enforcement, current and former members of the Verkhovna Rada took part, as well as senior officials of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Among those linked by Ukrainian media to the investigation were the former deputy head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, MP Vadym Stolars and former MP Maksym Mykytas.
