An investigation is ongoing in Ukraine, within the framework of which it became known that the ex-head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov employed his son Artur in this institution immediately after the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. This has caused outrage in society, as the appointment of family members to public positions is often seen as an abuse of power and a violation of ethics.
Thanks to this, the 27-year-old is protected from mobilization and enjoys the privileges of an operative, such as cover plates on cars.
In the SBU at that time, a 25-year-old boy with the surname of his mother, Lazarenko, received the rank of lieutenant, just like his father. He works in the sixth department of the counterintelligence department. According to its functionality, it has to manage the work of military factories and enterprises of the Military Industry during the war.
Journalists followed the guy and found out that he spends most of his working day in public catering establishments and the gym. On the day when he was being watched, he spent a total of about two hours in the office of the special service.
He himself refused to comment, saying that this is a "personal life" and he does not want to talk to the press at all. Bakanov Sr. did not "confirm or deny" this information, referring to the fact that the identities of SBU employees cannot be disclosed.
Later, the SBU officially confirmed to the publication that Artur Lazarenko was drafted into the Service on March 21, 2022, when the department was headed by his father.
Former People's Deputy Ihor Mosiychuk, commenting on this investigation, stated that "hundreds of children of former, and possibly current, officials, in particular among the management staff of the SBU, are currently working or serving in the SBU."
In this connection, he wonders why journalists paid attention only to Bakanov's son.
