Ukrainian court sets $130,000 bail for ex-ambassador to US

Editor's note: The story is being updated.

The High Anti-Corruption Court on Aug. 6 set Hr 6 million ($130,000) bail for Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's former ambassador to the U.S., in a corruption case.

She has been charged with illicit enrichment amounting to Hr 13.9 million ($310,000) and lying in her asset declarations. An anti-corruption prosecutor earlier proposed setting bail for Stefanishyna at Hr 13 million ($290,000).

Stefanishyna failed to declare two apartments, worth nearly Hr 11 million ($250,000), that were registered in the name of a friend, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).

She also failed to declare cash she spent on renovating the apartments, her mother’s medical treatment, airline tickets, and the rental of another apartment, the prosecutor said.

Stefanishyna used a number of assets registered in the names of people close to her at various times, the NABU said. These include an apartment, a parking space and several commercial units in a high-end residential complex in Kyiv, as well as a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d car, according to the bureau.

According to the prosecutor, Stefanishyna’s expenses exceeded her income and savings.

From early 2024 to mid-2025, she officially earned about Hr 3.7 million ($83,000), while approximately Hr 4.2 million ($94,000) was spent from her bank accounts alone during the same period, according to the NABU.

She also negotiated the purchase of a house outside Kyiv valued at around $550,000 but backed out of the deal apparently because she was appointed as ambassador to the U.S., the NABU said.

Stefanishyna also interfered in the contest for the selection of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention's (NACP) chief in 2024, according to the prosecutor.

She instructed pro-government selection panel members to support certain candidates, including Viktor Pavlushchyk, who was later chosen as the agency's head, according to Stefanishyna's correspondence cited by the prosecutor. Anti-corruption activists have accused Pavlushchyk of serving the government's political interests and being ineffective, which he denies.

According to one of the alleged instructions sent by Stefanishyna, "(Oleksandr) Skomarov (head of a NABU detective unit and a candidate for head of the NACP) definitely shouldn't be given 30 points," and "they should try to give him as few points as possible because he's already close to the maximum."

"Any procedural actions are part of the lawful work of the law enforcement system and do not amount to a finding of guilt," Stefanishyna wrote on Facebook. "I take these developments calmly and without unnecessary emotion."

She added that she had "addressed many of the issues now being raised in the media, including those concerning real estate" and "provided journalists with all the necessary documents regarding the apartment that prompted questions."

"The burden of proving allegations lies with those who make them," Stefanishyna continued. "As for me, I will do what I must: calmly and lawfully defend my position. I have no doubt about the outcome."

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Stefanishyna from her post on Aug. 3.

Before the charges were announced, Stefanishyna had also been investigated by the NABU in a case linked to alleged corruption at the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA). Ukrainian media reported in 2025 that companies linked to Stefanishyna's former husband had received contracts to manage assets seized by the ARMA.

Speculation that Stefanishyna could leave her post because of the corruption case has persisted since a surprise government reshuffle began in mid-July. According to her, she decided to resign for "personal reasons."

Stefanishyna's planned resignation was perceived by analysts as the trigger for the government reshuffle since Yuliia Svyrydenko, who was fired as prime minister, was expected to replace Stefanishyna as Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S.

However, a person with direct knowledge told the Kyiv Independent that Svyrydenko hasn't yet agreed to accept the post.

A source familiar with the situation told the Kyiv Independent that the reshuffle had been planned before Stefanishyna's decision to resign but her ouster contributed to the Cabinet's resignation.

Before being appointed as ambassador to the U.S. in 2025, Stefanishyna served as deputy prime minister for European integration from 2020 to 2025 and as justice minister from 2024 to 2025.

Stefanishyna had also been charged in a separate embezzlement case in 2019.