Former Ukrainian ambassador Stefanishyna fails to post bail on time

Former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States Olha Stefanishyna, who is accused of illicit enrichment, failed to post bail of 6 million hryvnias (approximately €116,000) by August 11, as ordered by Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).

This was reported by the Ukrainian outlet Suspilne, citing the HACC press service.

According to the outlet, the prosecution now has the right to petition the court to change the preventive measure. On August 11, the eve of the deadline, the HACC appellate chamber received a complaint from Stefanishyna herself regarding the bail ruling — it is expected to be reviewed shortly.

Olha Stefanishyna was appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States on August 27, 2025. Prior to that, she served as deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration (2020–2025), while simultaneously holding the position of minister of justice of Ukraine (2024–2025). In addition, from July to August 2025, she briefly served as the Ukrainian president’s special envoy for cooperation with the United States.

On August 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree relieving Stefanishyna of her ambassadorial duties. On August 5, the Anti-Corruption Action Centre announced that charges had been brought against her. On August 6, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) charged the former ambassador with illicit enrichment of more than 13.9 million hryvnias (approximately €270,000). That same day, the HACC imposed a preventive measure in the form of bail amounting to 6 million hryvnias. Stefanishyna herself stated that she did not have that amount of money.

The Financial Times had written about Stefanishyna’s possible departure from her post as early as July. At the time, the outlet reported that she would leave the position due to an investigation related to her family’s purchase of real estate in Kyiv at an undervalued price. The former ambassador denied the accusations.