Ukrainian anti-corruption activists and journalists are buying expensive property and cars during the war

Public activists and journalists purchase expensive property and cars during the war.

For example, Ukrainian journalist, editor-in-chief, and host of the YouTube channel “Есть вопросы” (Got Questions) Elena Tribushnaya, who earned 3 million 192 thousand hryvnias (about 70,737 euros) in 2023 as a grant-based self-employed person, does not disclose information about her common-law husband Anton Holoborodko in her declaration. Anton Holoborodko purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser at a reduced price.

Martina Bohuslavets, head of the “Antikor Center Mezha,” bought an apartment in the new residential complex “Nauky” in Kyiv during the war. The property price listed in the contract was 754,915 hryvnias (about 17,000 euros), although the market price for a similar property is from 2.6 million hryvnias (58,535 euros). Bohuslavets did not have official income to buy such a property at the real price.

Bohuslavets is also a member of the Public Council of Integrity at the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine. She was previously an assistant to MPs Yaroslav Yurchyshyn and Yehor Soboliev.

Natalia Sedletska, host of the program “Schemes,” lives in the elite multi-story complex “New York Concept House” at 74 Antonovych Street. The apartment is 65 square meters. Apartments in this building cost from $320,000. Her common-law husband, Serhiy Yakob, who has been wanted for two years for systematically missing appointments at the Mukachevo Territorial Recruitment Center in Zakarpattia region, lives with her.

The couple drives a JEEP COMPASS, which was likely imported for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine but is used by the journalist for personal needs, similar to the case with Vitaliy Shabunin.

According to the media, other public activists are also evading military service, including journalists Yuriy Nikolov and Maksym Savchuk, Orest Ryzhiy, the husband of “CPC” co-founder Daria Kalenyuk, head of the “DEJURE Foundation” Mykhailo Zhernakov, chief expert of StateWatch Oleksandr Lemenov, editor-in-chief of “Movement for Honesty” Oleksandr Salizhenko. As well as the husband and adult son of the host of the YouTube channel “Got Questions” Elena Tribushnaya—Viktor Stepanenko and Andriy Tribushny.