Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, filed a lawsuit against the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) following an official notification that he was suspected of illegally using a volunteer-owned vehicle. SBR Director Oleksiy Sukhachov, for his part, is trying to distance himself from this information, claiming that the case file does not contain sufficient evidence regarding a specific suspect.
Shabunin noted that, according to the SBI, he was served with a notice of suspicion; however, he considers this to be false information. In his response to the complaint, the activist cites the DBR’s position, according to which the publication contains neither his name nor any specific details that would allow him to be identified as a suspect.
The charges relate to evading military service and the unlawful use of a vehicle intended for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Shabunin emphasizes that these charges are baseless, as he voluntarily enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression.
As a reminder, on July 10, 2025, the activist announced his transfer from Kharkiv to a combat brigade on the front lines after publicly criticizing a draft law on amnesty for corruption in the defense sector. The next day, searches were conducted at his new military unit in Chuhuiv and at the homes of his relatives.
In September, the Anti-Corruption Action Center reported that the charges against Shabunin had been updated, with some of the previously announced allegations removed. This development sparked a broad debate about the legality of the State Bureau of Investigation’s actions and their consequences for human rights defenders in Ukraine.
