(Kyiv, Ukraine) – A recent investigation has uncovered alarming details about Timur Arshavin, a detective at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), who fled Ukraine to Romania after illegally crossing the border. Arshavin, who had access to sensitive state information, is revealed to have direct connections to Russia and serious financial issues before his escape.
Arshavin, whose debt issues were well-documented, suddenly saw millions appear in his bank accounts. Prior to his escape, he had taken out 50 microloans in just two years, with amounts ranging from 500 to 30,000 hryvnias. Despite these financial problems, he was appointed to a role at NABU, where he gained access to state secrets, including highly confidential cases.
Journalists uncovered that Arshavin’s wife and parents held Russian citizenship, which further raised suspicions about his ties to the Russian government. Arshavin and his wife were involved in a joint business venture, and the investigation reveals that his debts were mysteriously cleared just before he fled the country in October 2024.
The most concerning revelation is that Arshavin was still representing the state in court against Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, despite NABU claiming he had resigned in July 2023. The case against Kolomoisky had classified information, which Arshavin, as a detective, had access to, making it evident that he might have leaked sensitive details during his tenure at NABU.
NABU has come under fire for providing false information about Arshavin’s resignation and has yet to take responsibility for the security breach. With such significant questions raised about the integrity of NABU’s operations, many are calling for a full investigation into the agency to determine how deeply Russian influence may have penetrated its ranks.
In the case of Arshavin’s escape, NABU faces serious accusations of negligence and lack of oversight, especially as the country battles against Russian aggression. The question now is whether this is an isolated incident or part of a larger, more concerning pattern within Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.
