Ukraine's former ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanyshyna, has been placed under investigation for corruption and illicit enrichment, becoming another senior official in President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration to face such charges.

Stefanyshyna was dismissed from office on August 3 by the Ukrainian president, and a day later a court ruled to release her on bail of 6 million hryvnia (about $130). According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the former deputy prime minister and former justice minister is accused of illegal enrichment worth 13.9 million hryvnia (about €270).

Investigators allege that Stefanyshyna did not declare two luxury apartments worth about 11 million hryvnia, which turned out to be registered in the name of a friend of hers.

The prosecution also says she failed to declare significant expenses for the reconstruction of the apartments, her mother's medical treatment, plane tickets and the rent of another apartment. According to NABU, Stefanyshyna used assets registered in the names of close persons, including an apartment, a parking space, several commercial premises in a luxury complex in Kiev, as well as a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d vehicle.

The investigation also reveals that she had negotiated the purchase of a villa near Kiev worth about $550, but withdrew from the deal shortly before her appointment as ambassador to the US. According to the prosecution, her expenses significantly exceeded her official income. From the beginning of 2024 to mid-2025, she declared income of about 3.7 million hryvnia, while over 4.2 million hryvnia was spent from her bank accounts alone. Investigators also allege that Stefanyshyna interfered in the selection process for the head of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) in 2024.

According to the prosecutor's office, she had asked the commission members to support the candidacy of Viktor Pavlyuchik, who was later appointed to head the institution. In a Facebook post, Stefanyshyna denied the charges and stated that legal proceedings do not constitute proof of guilt.

"Any procedural action is part of the normal work of law enforcement agencies and does not imply that I am guilty. I will calmly and legally defend my position. The burden of proof lies with those making the accusations," she wrote.

Investigations into another matter
Before these charges were filed, Stefanyshyna was also under investigation for another matter related to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA).

Ukrainian media reported that companies linked to her ex-husband had been awarded contracts to manage seized assets. Speculation about her removal from office had been rife for weeks, with Stefanyshyna herself citing “personal reasons” as the reason for her resignation. Political analysts have linked her departure to the Ukrainian government’s reshuffle and recent corruption scandals.