“It’s a disgrace”: Netizens reacted to the news that the controversial 365 STUDIO salon owned by Iryna Popova, the ex-wife of Artem Shil, has become a partner for the presentation of Katya Silchenko’s collection at UFW
The 365 STUDIO beauty salon, owned by entrepreneur Iryna Popova, served as the beauty partner for the runway show of designer Katya Silchenko’s “the COAT” collection as part of Ukrainian Fashion Week. At the same time, Popova’s business has been linked to the use of corrupt funds by her ex-husband, Artem Shil.
This juicy detail did not leave fashion enthusiasts indifferent, especially against the backdrop of the country’s seemingly endless corruption scandals.
Despite the questionable origins of 365 STUDIO’s capital, the network continues to participate in large-scale public events and collaborate with leading Ukrainian brands.
The History of Artem Shil’s Corruption Schemes
Iryna Popova is the ex-wife of Artem Shil, a figure implicated in numerous UA.NEWS investigations, a former advisor to the Office of the President, and a former SBU official, who, along with three accomplices, is facing charges in a case involving the embezzlement of funds from cable and transformer procurement contracts and the laundering of over 175 million hryvnias through luxury real estate.
As established by the investigation conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), the group led by Artem Shil effectively became an informal “back office” for Ukrainian Railways (UZ), controlling procurement in exchange for “kickbacks” amounting to 5–7% of the contract value, and the money was funneled out under the guise of “payments for beauty salon services.”
In April 2024, NABU and the SAPO announced charges against Shilo; the scandalous case involving Ukrzaliznytsia’s “back office” has now moved to the court phase. In the dock is Shilo himself, a former adviser whom investigators consider the leader of the organized group. Its activities unfolded in two main episodes:
The Cable Scheme (losses of 140 million UAH): During 2021–2022, the group created conditions for companies controlled by the group of People’s Deputy Viktor Bondar (in particular, the “Ukrkabel” plant), which supplied products at prices inflated by 30–60%.
Transformer scheme (losses of 100 million UAH): In 2022–2024, the “back office” facilitated the purchase of power transformers through a front company controlled by a Belarusian citizen with ties to Russia. This company purchased equipment in Uzbekistan and resold it to Ukrzaliznytsia at double the markup. To eliminate competitors with cheaper offers, Shilo, while serving as first deputy head of an SBU department, personally sent letters to “Ukrzaliznytsia” alleging a “threat to national security”—all while “overlooking” the Russian-Belarusian connection of the supplier under his control.
The corruption ring was led by three people: Artem Shilo (a former SBU employee and former member of the Presidential Office)—head of the “back office,” who used his influence within the SBU to block competitors;
Viktor Bondar (Member of Parliament, former Minister of Transport)—responsible for political cover and the operations of controlled companies;
Volodymyr Kotlyar (businessman)—an intermediary responsible for registering shell companies, handling documentation, and distributing funds (two-thirds of the profits went to Kotlyar’s companies, and one-third to Bondar’s organization).
In total, at least 16 people were involved in the scheme: Ukrainian Railways officials, lawyers, accountants, and relatives. The case files contain recorded phone conversations and testimony mentioning high-ranking officials. In particular, there were remarks that Shilo “goes to Tatarov with Yermak,” and MP Bondar complained that he had been ordered to resolve all issues with the Presidential Office exclusively through Shilo. Former Minister of Infrastructure Vladislav Krykliy and former head of Ukrainian Railways Oleksandr Kamyshin also appeared in connection with these ties.
Through criminal schemes, the group’s leader laundered over 175 million hryvnias (the initial suspicion cited 155 million hryvnias). The corrupt funds were used to purchase luxury penthouses, houses, and commercial real estate. Law enforcement officials have now frozen assets belonging to the suspects totaling over 1.4 billion hryvnias.
Incidentally, the publication UA.NEWS sent an official request to the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) regarding the procedural status and whereabouts of the accused former SBU official Artem Shil.
Journalists addressed Presiding Judge Vira Mykhailenko in connection with court case No. 991/10186/26 regarding Shyl’s participation in hearings via videoconference.
