A New Scandal Surrounding Verbytsky: UA.NEWS Exposes Military Medical Personnel's Collaboration with the Dubious Foundation Run by His Girlfriend, Khristina Ilnytska
Media outlet UA.NEWS contacted the Odessa Military Hospital requesting a report on its collaboration with the foundation of Khristina Ilnytska, the partner of the controversial former Deputy Prosecutor General Verbytsky.
The online publication is investigating whether the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Southern Region verified the source of funds for Khristina Ilnytska’s charitable organization “Life Is One,” which is implicated in cases involving illicit enrichment and obstruction of journalists.
The editorial team sent an official journalistic inquiry to the leadership of the Military Medical Clinical Center (MMCC) of the Southern Region requesting details of their cooperation with the “One Life” charity. This foundation is headed by Khristina Ilnytska—the common-law wife of former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi—and to inform the MMCC of the possible consequences of such cooperation.
The reason for the inquiry was the public disclosure of a letter of appreciation sent to Ilnytska on behalf of the military hospital, dated May 22, 2026. Journalists highlight the high anti-corruption risks and are investigating whether the medical facility was used to launder funds of dubious origin.
The essence of the inquiry: nine questions about finances
In their request, the journalists called on the management of the defense medical facility to conduct an internal audit of the charitable organization “Zhyttia Yedyne” (EDRPOU code: 39511417) and, if the risks are confirmed, to immediately cease all interaction with it.
The editorial team requests that the Southern Regional Military Medical Center provide comprehensive information on the following points:
- Scope and volume: what specific material, financial, or medical assistance the hospital received from the charity, founded and headed by Ilnytska, including dates, acceptance and transfer acts, invoices, and contracts.
- Responsible parties: Which officials from the hospital’s former or current leadership initiated this collaboration and were responsible for interacting with the charitable organization.
- Anti-corruption analysis: Was financial monitoring and compliance (verification of legal status and sources of assets) conducted regarding the organization before accepting assistance from it?
- Response to alerts: Did the clinical center previously receive warnings from law enforcement agencies regarding the risks of laundering corrupt proceeds through this entity?
Elite property and criminal proceedings: why the scandal arose
The public outcry surrounding the “Zhyttia Yedyne” Charitable Organization stems from the figure of its head and her ties to former high-ranking official Dmytro Verbytskyi. Last year, a series of investigations by journalists from the “Schemes” project (Radio Liberty) and other specialized media outlets exposed wealth disproportionate to the official incomes of both the prosecutor himself and his inner circle.
According to investigators, Khristina Ilnytska became the owner of luxury real estate worth over $1.2 million in a short period of time. Among her acquisitions are a luxurious cottage in the prestigious town of Konik near Kyiv (purchased for one-sixth of its market value), a Porsche Macan, and a beauty salon in the capital.
Currently, a long trail of criminal proceedings and court rulings surrounds this couple. In particular, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is conducting a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceeding No. 52024000000000231 dated May 13, 2024, on grounds of a criminal offense under Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The case concerns the possible illegal enrichment of Dmytro Verbytskyi and his associates in an amount exceeding 30 million hryvnias.
Moreover, Verbytskyi’s attempts to clear his name through the courts have failed. In case No. 320/749/25, the former official sought to challenge the NACP’s findings through the Kyiv District Administrative Court. However, on February 25, 2026, the court fully sided with the NACP and denied the claim. With this decision, the court confirmed the legality of the NACP’s actions, which, while monitoring the lifestyle of the Deputy Prosecutor General and his associates, identified signs of a crime and submitted a substantiated conclusion to the NABU.
Against this backdrop, Dmytro Verbytskyi resigned from the Office of the Prosecutor General last summer, but the investigation into his assets is still ongoing.
Legal Basis and Expectations for a Response
UA.NEWS emphasizes that it operates within the framework of the Ukrainian laws “On Media” and “On Information.” Since the activities of military medical centers are state-funded, and the issue of transparency regarding the use of charitable funds during martial law is critically important, the media insists on the public disclosure of this data.
Journalists separately noted: if part of the requested information is classified or restricted, the military leadership is obligated to provide the remaining public data in accordance with Part 7 of Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine “On Access to Public Information.” The editorial team is awaiting an official response to its email addresses within the timeframe established by law.
Meanwhile, Serhiy Ionushas, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement, was officially presented with a petition from the online media outlet UA.NEWS regarding the need for parliamentary action in the case of former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi.
It recently came to light that former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi, who left his post amid scandal following investigations into illicit enrichment, has officially launched his political career. The Odesa regional branch of the All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna” confirmed in response to a request from UA.News that Verbytskyi is already a member of Yulia Tymoshenko’s party.
As a reminder, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK)has published the results of its audit of former Deputy Prosecutor General Verbytskyi. The agency’s official documents completely refute the former official’s public statements regarding the alleged “cleanliness” of his assets and the existence of any “international audits.”
Dmytro Verbytskyi resigned from his position as Deputy Prosecutor General in the summer of 2024 following a series of media investigations. Journalists uncovered luxury properties belonging to the official and his associates, including cottages worth over half a million dollars purchased at below-market prices, Porsche cars, and real estate abroad.
On February 25, 2026, the Kyiv District Administrative Court upheld the NACP’s findings regarding the inconsistency between Verbytskyi’s lifestyle and his official income. In addition to the case of illicit enrichment, the former official is a defendant in another proceeding—regarding obstruction of journalistic activity (Part 3 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The Kyiv District Court of Odesa has reinstated the case regarding the obstruction of journalistic activities by the UA.NEWS editorial office while covering the investigation into the alleged illegal enrichment of former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Dmytro Verbytskyi.
