Key facts
- President Zelensky appointed Oleksandr Poklad as acting head of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).
- Maksym Tsutskiridze was appointed temporary head of Ukraine's National Police.
- Poklad is accused by activists of leading an attack on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and fabricating political cases.
- Tsutskiridze has a close relationship with Oleh Tatarov, a controversial official in the President's Office.
- Allegations suggest Tsutskiridze and subordinates fabricated evidence in a criminal case.
- Poklad was reportedly involved in the controversy surrounding the death of negotiator Denys Kireev.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Oleksandr Poklad as the acting head of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and Maksym Tsutskiridze as the temporary head of the National Police. These appointments come amid significant controversy surrounding both individuals.
Poklad, a former senior deputy of the SBU, faces accusations from the Anti-Corruption Action Center and other activists of leading an attack on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) in 2025 and fabricating political cases. The group stated that appointing such figures signals a move towards a police state and increased pressure on anti-corruption institutions and civil society.
Tsutskiridze, who has served 20 years in the police, including as deputy head of the National Police since 2019, is closely linked to Oleh Tatarov, a controversial official in the President's Office responsible for law enforcement. Tsutskiridze and Tatarov, who were acquainted for a long time and co-authored a textbook on investigating 'mass riots,' have faced allegations of fabricating evidence in criminal cases to pressure individuals. Prosecutors later acknowledged that some evidence in a case involving Tatarov had been falsified, and the case collapsed.
Further scrutiny surrounds Tsutskiridze's living situation, with his mother-in-law purchasing property below market value, raising questions about the source of funds. Poklad's past also includes alleged involvement in the controversy surrounding the death of Denys Kireev, a member of Ukraine's negotiating delegation, and accusations of orchestrating pressure on a lawmaker to fabricate testimony against NABU detectives.