Senior Ukrainian cybersecurity officials sacked amid corruption probe | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yurii Shchyhol and Victor Zhora were accused of participating in a scheme to contract software at inflated prices.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/zhora-shchyhol-fired-corruption\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Senior Ukrainian cybersecurity officials sacked amid corruption probe\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yurii Shchyhol and Victor Zhora were accused of participating in a scheme to contract software at inflated prices.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/zhora-shchyhol-fired-corruption\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-11-20T17:41:24+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" 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content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"post-template-default single single-post postid-78050 single-format-standard\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/zhora-shchyhol-fired-corruption\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"24.941176470588\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"30.225663716814\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/news\/government\/\"> <span>Government<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Yurii Shchyhol and Victor Zhora were accused of participating in a scheme to contract software at inflated prices. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-2.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> Ukraine’s national flag flies in Kyiv on February 26, 2022. (GENYA SAVILOV\/AFP via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"28.637130075705\"><body readability=\"57.816932788711\"><\/p>\n<p>Authorities in Ukraine fired two senior cybersecurity officials Monday amid an investigation into alleged embezzlement, according to a statement from a senior Ukrainian cabinet official.<\/p>\n<p>Yurii Shchyhol, the head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP), and Victor Zhora, his deputy, were fired, the cabinet official Taras Melnychuk <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/tmelnychuk\/3542\">wrote on Telegram<\/a>. Dmytro Makovskyi, the first deputy to Shchyhol, was installed as interim head of the agency.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Shchyhol disputed that the two men were fired and said that they had resigned in order to let the investigation into allegations of procurement fraud proceed. <\/p>\n<p>Following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine last year, SSSCIP has emerged as a key partner to Western governments looking to provide cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine as it seeks to protect its digital infrastructure amid the ongoing war. Zhora has become a high-profile link between Ukraine and the Western cybersecurity industry and national security officials, frequently <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/black-hat-russia-china-ukraine\/\">appearing on stage<\/a> at conferences alongside technology industry and government officials.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It is unclear what impact, if any, Shchyhol and Zhora\u2019s firing will have on Western cybersecurity aid to Kyiv. <\/p>\n<p>The firing of Zhora and Shchyhol is the latest in a string of sacking aimed at addressing concerns of corruption within the Ukrainian government. As Kyiv seeks support for EU membership, the government has attempted to crack down on corruption by firing a series of high-profile ministers, including the defense minister and a senior intelligence official. <\/p>\n<p>Ukraine\u2019s National Anti-Corruption Bureau <a href=\"https:\/\/nabu.gov.ua\/news\/zavolod-nnia-62-mln-grn-pri-zakup-vl-programnogo-zabezpechennia-p-dozriu-t-sia-ker-vnitctvo-derzhspetczviazku\/\">said in a statement<\/a> on Monday that an investigation had found that Shchyhol and Zhora had been involved in a scheme to purchase software at inflated prices and that a group of six people pocketed the difference between the actual and contracted cost of the software purchased by Ukrainian state agencies. <\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for SSSCIP said that the agency has \u201cprovided law enforcement with all the necessary information\u201d and that the agency\u2019s work is \u201cbased on the principles of openness and zero toleration of corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe urge to abstain from accusations of certain officers or executives involved in organizing protection of Ukraine\u2019s critical information infrastructure until the investigation is completed and the court provides its legal treatment of the investigation results,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Zhora declined to comment when reached midday Monday. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Updated, Nov. 20, 2023:<\/strong> <em>This story has been updated to reflect Makovskyi\u2019s prior position and note that Zhora declined to comment.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"1.2806603773585\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"AJ Vicens\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by AJ Vicens<\/h4>\n<p> AJ covers nation-state threats and cybercrime. He was previously a reporter at Mother Jones. Get in touch via Signal\/WhatsApp: (810-206-9411). <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/zhora-shchyhol-fired-corruption\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senior Ukrainian cybersecurity officials sacked amid corruption probe | CyberScoop<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[117,270,1030,288,354,1238],"tags":[119,276,1032,294,358,1239],"class_list":["post-2096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government","category-russia","category-ssscip","category-threats","category-ukraine","category-victor-zhora","tag-government","tag-russia","tag-ssscip","tag-threats","tag-ukraine","tag-victor-zhora"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/russia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Russia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/ssscip\/\" rel=\"category tag\">SSSCIP<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/threats\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Threats<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/ukraine\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Ukraine<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/victor-zhora\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Victor Zhora<\/a>","tag_info":"Victor Zhora","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":2096,"date":"2023-11-20T17:41:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T17:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=78050"},"modified":"2023-11-20T17:41:24","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T17:41:24","slug":"senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2023\/11\/20\/senior-ukrainian-cybersecurity-officials-sacked-amid-corruption-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Ukrainian cybersecurity officials sacked amid corruption probe"},"content":{"rendered":"