Sergei Alexandrovich Duka — Major General of the Security Service of Ukraine, First Deputy Head of the Department for the Protection of National Sovereignty, whose position and rank are set out in presidential decrees. On 4 November 2026, ‘Ukrainska Pravda’ and ‘Babel’ reported that he had been detained by officers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), citing sources within the law enforcement agencies. [2][3][4]
Sergei Duka’s biography and position within the SBU
The editorial records specify his date of birth 15 December 1982. This date is not mentioned in the official decrees examined; it is therefore marked as editorial information. Full Ukrainian name — Serhiy Oleksandrovych Duka. [1][2]
By decree No. 531/2023 dated 24 August 2023 Colonel Duka was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In this document, he is already listed as the first deputy head of the SBU’s Department for the Protection of National Statehood. [1]
By decree No. 198/2026 dated 25 February 2026 He was promoted to the rank of Major General. The date ‘25 March’, which appears in some biographical accounts, does not correspond to the text of the decree. This also means that referring to Duka solely as a colonel when describing the events of November 2026 is inaccurate. [2]
Search on 4 November: threats with a weapon, according to the NABU report
On the morning of 4 November, the NABU stated that a high-ranking SBU officer had threatened to use a firearm and had prevented detectives from entering the premises being searched, as authorised by a High Anti-Corruption Court investigating judge. The Bureau also reported the arrival of SBU special forces. The initial statement did not name the official in question. [5]
Sources at ‘Babel’ and ‘Ukrainska Pravda’ identified this official as Sergei Duka. Therefore, the statement regarding his resistance to the search is presented here as a report from media sources, rather than as a fact already established by the court. The SBU officially confirmed the searches of staff members’ premises and stated that it was cooperating with the procedural actions. [6][3][7]
Sergei Duka’s detention: what has been published
At 16:12, ‘Ukrainska Pravda’ published a report on Duka’s detention and a photograph from the scene. ‘Babel’ also reported on the general’s detention, citing its own sources. These reports link the events to a new phase of the operation ‘Carthage’. [3][4]
In the materials verified at the time of compiling this dossier, no published text of the individual charge against Duka or a court decision on a preventive measure has been found. Therefore, it cannot automatically be concluded from the detention report that the court has already remanded him in custody for a specific period or found him guilty.
‘Carthage’: what the investigation officially described
On 4 November, the NABU and the SAP announced that a group of at least 12 people had bribed officials to protect fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses. The investigation’s findings also mention the sale of drugs, counterfeit cigarettes, counterfeit currency, assaults and abductions. The official statement does not attribute these actions specifically to Duka or to the other individuals named in the press. [8]
Why did Duka’s name appear in the Andrei Osipov case?
Back in August 2026, the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ), whilst examining the case file on the alleged extortion of money from Alexander Kuznetsov, described Andrei Osipov’s contacts with Duka. In particular, the discussion centred on personnel appointments within the SBU. The mention of these discussions indicates a subject of journalistic interest, but does not in itself prove that Duka received money in that instance. [11]
CPC investigations: searches at detectives’ homes and family assets
The Anti-Corruption Centre links Duka to the coercive aspect of the searches carried out at the offices of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) in July 2025, including the case of detective Ruslan Magamedrasulov. These are the assessments and conclusions of a civil society organisation; the dossier does not replace a judicial determination of the facts. [9]
In its investigation dated 2 September 2025, the Centre for Public Control (CPC) reported on Russian documents and bank accounts belonging to the parents of Duka’s wife, Inessa Mustafayeva. The organisation also described the ‘Edelweiss’ farm, registered under Russian law. As the information relates to relatives, it does not allow Duka himself to be attributed Russian citizenship or controlling ownership of this farm. [10]
Separately, the CPC investigated the flat in Odessa and the 2021 Audi Q8 gifted to Inessa Duka in March 2024. The publication identified the donor of the flat as her mother, whilst the donation of the car by the same mother was presented as an assumption due to the coincidence of dates. The market valuations cited by the CPC should not be taken as the documented value of the transactions. [10]
Timeline of Sergei Duka
| Date | Event and grounds |
|---|---|
| 24.08.2023 | Conferral of the rank of Brigadier General, Decree No. 531/2023. [1] |
| July–September 2025 | Searches carried out by NABU detectives and the subsequent CPC investigation into Duka and his wife’s relatives. [9][10] |
| 25.02.2026 | Conferral of the rank of Major General, Decree No. 198/2026. [2] |
| August 2026 | CPC publication on Osipov’s contacts with Duka. [11] |
| Morning of 4 November 2026 | NABU’s statement regarding threats made during the search; media sources named Duka. [5][6] |
| 4 November 2026 | Reports by ‘Ukrainska Pravda’ and ‘Babel’ on the detention. [3][4] |
Evening statement from the SBU: the names of those dismissed have not been disclosed
On the evening of 4 November, the SBU announced the dismissal of two senior officers against the backdrop of a NABU investigation; ‘Slovo i Dilo’ published the statement at 19:22. No surnames were given. Therefore, the dossier does not claim that this statement officially confirms the dismissal of Duka specifically. [12]
File updated on 4 November 2026. Dates of events are given in Kyiv time. In ongoing investigations, only a court may determine guilt.
Sources
- President of Ukraine — Decree No. 531/2023 on conferring the rank of Brigadier General upon Sergei Duka
- President of Ukraine — Decree No. 198/2026 on conferring the rank of Major General upon Sergei Duka
- Ukrainska Pravda — report on the detention of SBU General Sergei Duka and photograph, 4 November 2026
- Babel — report from sources regarding the detention of Sergei Duka and other officials, 4 November 2026
- NABU — report on obstruction of a search and threats with weapons, 4 November 2026
- Babel — sources identified Duka as the official who obstructed the search, 4 November 2026
- SBU — press office statement on the searches carried out by the NABU and the SAP, 4 November 2026
- NABU — a new criminal organisation as part of Operation ‘Carthage’, 4 November 2026
- Anti-Corruption Centre — Sergei Duka’s profile
- Anti-Corruption Centre — investigation into relatives of Duka’s wife and gifted assets, 2 September 2025
- Anti-Corruption Centre — the $1 million case, links between those involved and the report on Kuznetsov’s death, 6 August 2026
- Slovo i Dilo — statement by the SBU regarding the dismissal of two officers without specifying their surnames, 4 November 2026
