How security forces are preparing high-profile searches and arrests
500 security forces were involved in the operation to arrest Gennady Korban and search the offices of his foundation.
Moreover, they were brought in from other regions of the country to keep the details of the operation secret. Vesti investigated how such operations are prepared and their budget.
According to former Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Bagants, a search and detention order is issued by the court, coordinated with the prosecutor's office, and only then transferred to the agency that will carry it out (the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine).
"Officially, the state pays for travel expenses, food, and transportation for those involved in the operation. For example, in 2014, mass searches were conducted in the Donetsk region. Sokol fighters were brought in to assist the investigative task force. Equipment, weapons, and clothing were all covered," he said.
As a source from the former foreign intelligence leadership added, only the top brass—the Prosecutor General, the head of the SBU, and the investigator—know about the important operation.
How fighters are selected
"All the personnel involved—operatives, security forces, prosecutors—learn their assignments only just before departure. Sometimes, each of them receives a sealed envelope with specific instructions, literally 15 minutes before departure," the source explained.
This is being done to prevent information leaks, our source explained. He added that all phones in the operation zone are being jammed for the same purpose.
Incidentally, an SBU officer confirms this: "They learn about the mission when they're already on the buses. The group leader opens the envelope and explains everything. We hand over our cell phones to the senior officer; they can't be used during the operation. Usually, they don't select soldiers for the operation: whoever's on duty goes."
As for finances, according to a source in the authorities, for each such business trip, all participants receive triple the daily wage.
"Plus travel expenses, transportation, food, housing, and medication. All of this is financed by the state. The only problem is that different operations are funded differently, depending on their severity and danger."
He also said that sometimes, unofficially, participants in the operation are given money in envelopes, supposedly as gratitude from the oligarchs for fighting their competitors.
However, a former Alpha fighter told Vesti that they did not receive any additional payment for such operations, only bonuses at the end of the month.
"Our salaries are up to 10 hryvnias, and at the end of the month, they might only give us a bonus of 1–2. There's no triple pay for these types of trips. Law enforcement agencies' resources are used, based on budgetary funds (for transportation, equipment, etc.)," the fighter confirmed.
An SBU officer clarified that daily allowances and travel expenses typically range from 100 to 500 UAH.
A Vesti source in the security services estimated how much the special operation to detain Korban might have cost. The operation involved 500 officers and 65 investigators, a total of 565 people. Each received a salary for that day, calculated at 6,000 hryvnias per month. That's a total of 113,000 hryvnias per day, or 226,000 hryvnias for two days. Plus transportation. The distance from Kyiv to Dnipropetrovsk (although some of the trip was from Chernihiv) is 474 km.
Budget for the special operation of security forces
The investigators traveled in 13 passenger cars (average fuel consumption was eight liters), and in total they spent 34,320 UAH.
The SBU fighters traveled in 20 minibuses (an average of 25 liters per 100 km), and could have spent a total of 53 thousand hryvnias on fuel.
Plus 10 Spartan and Cougar armored vehicles, which could spend 62,568 UAH on fuel alone.
In total, the budget for one operation could amount to approximately 400 thousand UAH.
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