Odessa Polytechnic University has refused to explain why it is still keeping former prosecutor Verbytsky as a graduate student
The controversial former prosecutor Dmytro Verbytsky received a deferment from military service as a graduate student at Odessa Polytechnic National University, but was not scheduled to graduate until the fall of 2025. The university refused to provide information on why their graduate student has not yet defended his dissertation.
In response to an official request from journalists, the university administration stated that this information allegedly does not constitute a matter of public interest. At the same time, according to the law, the standard duration of graduate studies is four years, and Verbytskyi, who enrolled there before the full-scale invasion (no later than the fall of 2021), was supposed to complete his studies and defend his dissertation by at least the fall of 2025.
The former official himself confirmed his enrollment during a brief phone conversation, but refused to explain why he still holds the status of a graduate student and subsequently ignored calls from journalists. According to sources in the security services, in November 2024, Verbytsky received an official deferment from mobilization at the Khadzhibey District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRSC) in Odesa. It is noteworthy that the former prosecutor simultaneously heads the district organization of the “Batkivshchyna” political party in this very same district of the city. Earlier, Dmytro Verbytskyi became a subject of a high-profile investigation by the “Schemes” project regarding possible illicit enrichment amounting to 30 million hryvnias, specifically through the purchase of a luxury estate in the “Konik” cottage community at a price 24 times below market value, as well as his girlfriend’s acquisition of property in Odesa and Turkey and a Porsche without any official income.
This is detailed in an investigation by “Ukrainska Pravda.”
Dmytro Verbytskyi resigned from his position as Deputy Prosecutor General in the summer of 2024 following widespread public outcry and a series of media investigations (including the “Schemes” project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty). Journalists discovered that the official and his girlfriend were using luxury real estate in a cottage community, purchased at a fraction of market value, Porsche cars, property in Turkey, and other assets worth millions of dollars.
In addition to the case of illegal enrichment at NABU, another criminal proceeding has been opened against the former prosecutor (No. 120251644800002020 dated April 22, 2025) under Part 3 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It is being investigated by ORUP No. 1 of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime on charges of obstructing the lawful professional activities of journalists, committed by a group of individuals acting in concert.
It recently became known 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.
Additionally, the UA.NEWS editorial team submitted an official request to the Kyiv District Administrative Court (KDAC). Journalists are trying to determine why the materials of the high-profile case involving former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi have not yet been transferred to the appellate court, which may indicate attempts to delay the proceedings.
