Internal infighting under the banner of security: Zelensky announced “tough purges” in the Security Service of Ukraine amid scandals and personnel turbulence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a notable message about his meeting with the First Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Oleksandr Poklad.

The message appeared on the Ukrainian president’s Telegram channel.

“Today I received a report from SBU Major General Oleksandr Poklad on countering the enemy’s plans against our country. I also instructed Oleksandr to address the issue of cleansing the Security Service of Ukraine of those who serve not Ukraine, but other interests. Decisive action is needed and a truly strong Security Service in full. I expect results,” Zelenskyy said.

In other words, the president has effectively announced a purge of the SBU of those “who serve not Ukraine, but other interests.”

Whether this refers to uncovering some kind of conspiracy within the SBU or to upcoming individual dismissals—for example, of people implicated in corruption cases (and scandals of this kind arise regularly)—remains an open question.

But the context is also worth noting.

A few days ago, NABU detained former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. Today he was served with a notice of suspicion, and he is currently in custody.

Halushchenko—along with Mindych—is a key figure in the “Midas” case concerning corruption in Zelenskyy’s close circle.

As the media have written, the notice of suspicion for Halushchenko could be followed by other actions by anti-corruption bodies—for example, a notice of suspicion for former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak.

At the same time, according to media reports, Poklad previously oversaw preparations for a counterstrike by the president against NABU and SAPO aimed at defusing their pressure on Zelenskyy and his inner circle.

Whether the president has now given the green light for such a counterstrike in light of recent events, or whether he will continue—as before—to maintain a passive stance toward anti-corruption investigations into his circle, will become clear in the near future.