NABU detained former head of the Luhansk administration, Serhiy Haidai

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has detained former head of the Luhansk Regional Civil Administration, Serhiy Haidai, in connection with the corruption case involving MP Oleksiy Kuznetsov.

This was reported by various media outlets.

It is noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had reportedly planned to appoint Haidai as head of either Ivano-Frankivsk or Poltava Oblast in the near future.

Shortly before his arrest by NABU, Haidai — who was then serving as head of the Mukachevo District (a position from which Zelensky dismissed him just a day prior) — posted a photo in which he referenced another suspect in the case, MP Kuznetsov.

On July 30, Haidai shared a post showing himself delivering drone batteries and electronic warfare (EW) systems to soldiers of the 54th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In that post, he tagged Kuznetsov, who then reposted Haidai’s content on his own Facebook page, suggesting that Kuznetsov also took part in supplying the unit.

Both men — Haidai and Kuznetsov — are suspected of involvement in fraudulent schemes related to the procurement of drones and EW systems for the National Guard. This implies they were previously acquainted and cooperated in supplying such equipment, which aligns with the case details disclosed by NABU.

Following their arrests, many critical comments flooded the post, accusing both officials of profiting from frontline needs and appropriating donations collected “penny by penny” by ordinary Ukrainians for the military.

Some commenters also questioned President Zelensky’s decision to appoint Haidai to a key role in Mukachevo, a border district — hinting at possible involvement in smuggling schemes.

Previously, NABU had detained MP Oleksiy Kuznetsov of the ruling Servant of the People party for bribery in connection with drone and electronic warfare procurement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to NABU’s press service, other suspects include leaders of district and city-level military-civil administrations, as well as servicemen of the National Guard.