Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies complete pre-trial probe in Stefanishyna case

Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have concluded the preliminary investigation into a case involving a former Ukrainian deputy prime minister and justice minister, believed to have amassed illicit wealth and submitted false asset declarations, according to an Oct.

16 NABU announcement. The suspect is alleged to own two apartments in the Fayna Town residential complex, valued at nearly 11 million hryvnias ($245,463), registered under a friend's name. She is also accused of using properties registered to close associates, including an apartment in the Lvivska Ploshcha complex in Kyiv, registered to her mother, and a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d belonging to a subordinate.

The individual under scrutiny allegedly failed to declare this property. A planned purchase of a house outside Kyiv for around $550,000 was reportedly proposed, but the deal was eventually abandoned due to an upcoming diplomatic posting abroad. The suspect's official income during this period, from early 2024 to mid-2025, amounted to approximately 3.7 million hryvnias ($82,565), while about 4.2 million hryvnias ($93,722) were purportedly withdrawn from her bank accounts.

NABU did not disclose the suspect's name but cited the case of former Deputy Prime Minister and former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Stefanishyna as Ukraine's ambassador to the US on Aug. 3, 2026, citing personal reasons, including the ongoing investigation.

NABU and SAPO subsequently filed charges against Stefanishyna, who served as deputy prime minister for European integration at the time. The Anti-Corruption Action Center NGO alleged Stefanishyna omitted two one-room apartments, cash for apartment renovations, her mother's medical expenses, airline tickets, and rent for another apartment from her declaration.

She also did not disclose the use of a Mercedes-Benz registered to a subordinate. On Aug. 6, the High Anti-Corruption Court set bail at 6 million hryvnias ($133,889), which was later posted. Law enforcement sources reported that the payment came from the law firm Ilyashev & Partners, where Stefanishyna had previously worked as an adviser.

Stefanishyna held the positions of deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration from 2020 to 2025, and justice minister from 2024 to 2025.