Ukraine’s embassy in Ankara found itself at the center of a scandal after publications about an SBU spy network

The Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara has found itself at the center of a major international scandal after a publication by the Turkish outlet dikGazete, which claims that a large-scale network allegedly linked to the SBU operated on Turkish territory.

The authors of the piece say that one of the key covers for this activity may have been part of the Crimean Tatar diaspora, and that, at the center of the alleged scheme, a serving Turkish diplomat was involved.

The publication also mentions Ukraine’s ambassador in Ankara, Nariman Dzhelyal. The outlet links him to a number of high-profile episodes and claims that the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Turkey may have been used as one of the channels for coordinating intelligence activity. At the same time, the article provides no information about any reaction by the official authorities of Ukraine or Turkey to these accusations.

The authors pay special attention to the leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, as well as to representatives of the Crimean Tatar diaspora in Turkey. Among the figures mentioned are Mükremin Şahin, head of the Crimean Tatar Culture and Mutual Aid Society of Turkey, and his son Fethi Kurti Şahin.

According to the outlet’s version, Mükremin Şahin, who built a career in Turkey’s public and political circles, previously found himself at the center of corruption scandals but avoided serious legal consequences. The authors link this to his influence within the diaspora and contacts with well-known Crimean Tatar figures.

A central place in the publication is given to Fethi Kurti Şahin. It is noted that he received an education in Turkey, Germany, and Ukraine, after which he entered the diplomatic service of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry. At present, the article claims, he works as a third secretary at Turkey’s embassy in Kazakhstan.

The authors suggest that during his studies abroad, Fethi Kurti may have come to the attention of foreign intelligence services, including Ukrainian ones. In support of this claim, the outlet cites information about his wife Feride Useinova—a Ukrainian citizen of Crimean Tatar origin—who, according to the publication, worked at Ukraine’s embassy in Turkey until 2024.

The article claims that Useinova was connected through her work with Denys Zolotarev, whom the outlet describes as an SBU officer and one of the key coordinators of the alleged Ukrainian intelligence network in Turkey. It adds that his knowledge of the Turkish language allegedly enabled him to build broad contacts within the country.

Against this backdrop, the authors of the publication call on Ankara to demand official explanations from Kyiv. At the time the piece was published, however, no public confirmations of the allegations presented had been provided by Turkish or Ukrainian authorities.