Court extends preventive measure for Vitaliy Shabunin: what is known about the case against anti-corruption activist and military officer
17 October 2025 15:15
The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv has extended the preventive measure for the head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center(AntAC) and military officer Vitaliy Shabunin, who is suspected of military service evasion and fraud.
This was reported by the AntAC, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The measure of restraint remains in the form of a personal commitment.
This means that Shabunin is obliged to:
- appear when summoned by an investigator, judge or prosecutor;
- not to leave the place of service without permission (except for the performance of official tasks)
- refrain from communicating with NACP employees;
- surrender his/her foreign passport.
Chronology of the case
- on July 15, 2025, the Pechersk Court imposed a measure of restraint on Shabunin in the form of a personal commitment.
- on August 19, the court extended it.
- onAugust 13, the SBI announced an updated suspicion due to “changed circumstances,” but the classification of the crime was not changed.
- on August 14, the investigation announced the completion of the investigation.
What Shabunin is accused of
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, the anti-corruption activist, who was mobilized in 2022, did not report for service for a long time and also worked in civilian institutions that are not part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
His actions are classified as military service evasion and fraud (details of the articles are not disclosed).
What the AntAC says
The Anti-Corruption Action Center stated that they consider the case to be politically motivated.
The organization reports that during the searches:
- lawyers could not get to the places of investigative actions in time;
- there was no video recording of the searches;
- law enforcement officers seized equipment, including tablets of Shabunin’s children.
Shabunin’s position
After the searches, Vitaliy Shabunin sharply criticized the actions of the authorities, calling President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “tsar” who, in his words,
“taking advantage of the war, is making confident steps towards corrupt authoritarianism.”
The activist insists that the case against him is a revenge for the anti-corruption activities of the AntAC, which has previously criticized the authorities for attempts to weaken the transparency of defense procurement and strengthen control over anti-corruption bodies.
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What was the public reaction?
The case caused a loud response in the media and among human rights activists.
Part of the public sees the prosecution of Shabunin as a sign of pressure on the anti-corruption sector, while others emphasize the need to maintain military discipline, even for public figures.
Who is Vitaliy Shabunin?
Vitaliy Shabunin is one of the most prominent anti-corruption activists in Ukraine, co-founder of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC).
The organization is involved in monitoring the activities of NABU, NAPC and the Ministry of Defense, and has initiated a number of anti-corruption investigations against officials and MPs.
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Shabunin mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he claims to be serving in a combat unit.
The investigation into the case is officially over, and the indictment may be submitted to court in the near future.
If proven guilty, Vitaliy Shabunin may face real punishment, although experts note that the probability of a suspended sentence is high, given the nature of the suspicions and the public status of the accused.
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