The Case of Verbytsky’s Illegal Enrichment: Media Outlets Appeal to TSK Chairman Zheleznyak Over Lack of Investigation Results
The editorial staff of the online media outlet UA.NEWS sent a follow-up request to People’s Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada’s Temporary Investigative Commission (TIC) on the investigation of possible unlawful actions by officials of state authorities, other state bodies, andstate-owned enterprises that could have harmed Ukraine’s economic security, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, requesting that he take parliamentary action regarding the investigation into the illegal enrichment of former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi.
Journalists point to a likely delay in the case on the part of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). Criminal case No. 52024000000000231 was opened back in May 2024, but after two years of pretrial investigation, no one has been formally charged, and the case materials have still not been sent to court.
Parliamentary Oversight
In its appeal, the media outlet asks Yaroslav Zheleznyak, as chair of the relevant Temporary Special Commission, to send inquiries to NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) to determine the reasons for the violation of “reasonable time limits” for the investigation. The editorial board questions the impartiality of the investigation and points to possible external influence on the course of the case.
Court rulings and new developments
As a reminder, on February 25, 2026, the Kyiv District Administrative Court confirmed the validity of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention’s (NAZK) findings regarding the discrepancy 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 activities (Part 3 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The Essence of the Incident
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 owned by the official and his inner circle, including cottages worth over half a million dollars purchased at below-market prices, Porsche cars, and real estate abroad.
Verbytskyi has also officially launched his political career. In response to a request from UA.News, the Odesa regional branch of the All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna” confirmed that Verbytskyi is already a member of Yulia Tymoshenko’s party.
A dissertation against corruption and renting from a friend: the controversial Dmytro Verbytskyi explains how he is evading mobilization and court proceedings
Instead of facing trial, the controversial former official is now calmly sipping coffee and building a political career, complaining to investigative journalists’ cameras: “I don’t live a lavish life, but I don’t live poorly either.” What’s more, it turns out that his luxurious home in the capital is simply an act of incredible generosity from a friend. Commenting on the pittance he pays to rent a house in an elite cottage community, Verbytskyy looks journalists straight in the eye and assures them: “I’m renting it from a friend. Well, this isn’t a perk; these are average market rates for renting houses, uh, in this region. And this has been verified, uh, by NAZK officials.”
While the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) seem to be trying to find their way to court for the third year in a row, the former law enforcement official has found a foolproof way to avoid mobilization—he became a graduate student and is working on his dissertation. The topic of this academic work by a man with millions in unexplained assets is simply mockingly perfect: “anti-corruption legislation.” Asserting that “I’ve been studying my whole life,” the former prosecutor—who is practically a professor already—has already outlined his plans for the future: “I want to continue working at a university and pass on my knowledge.” And there’s certainly plenty to pass on—for example, a unique scheme for officially earning about $2,000 at the prosecutor’s office while receiving “birthday gifts” from relatives.
“Well, they helped out—they gave me gifts for my birthday, and that was my savings… Well, my mother could have given me $5,000,” the future luminary of science declares without a hint of embarrassment.
When the conversation turns to the origin of his family’s wealth, the classic, rock-solid legend of Ukrainian bureaucracy about wealthy relatives comes into play.
“My father was a captain on a long-haul ship. I think you understand how much a long-haul ship captain earns. Well, starting at $10,000 a month,” Verbytsky boasts. But for some reason, he refused to boast about his new Audi SQ8 worth 100 thousand greenbacks on camera, instantly switching to a tone of aggressive defense:
“Look, this car is registered in my name. You can look it up online. If you want, I’ll come to your studio, I’ll give you an interview, I’ll show you the documents. Show me the questions you want to ask. I’ll answer them. I’ll show you the documents. Conduct the interview objectively. I don’t like provocations like the one you’re pulling right now.” Verbitsky now plans to scale up all this “anti-corruption” success in the world of big-time politics—he has taken the helm of the district branch of Yulia Tymoshenko’s party. However, even here the logic has gone out the window, because, in the words of the newly minted party member himself: “As of today, whether to go into politics or not—I’m not yet, let’s say, fully ready to go into politics. I am currently a party member and serve as the head of the branch in the Khadzhibeyevsky District. No, I do not sponsor the party.”
Under what exact conditions “Batkivshchyna” took in such a toxic figure remains an open question. For now, Dmytro Anatoliyovych feels so confident and immune from consequences that, instead of sitting in the dock, he’s attacking law enforcement officials himself: “I am currently in a legal battle with the NACP, since the NACP clearly stated in a publication that they had uncovered illegal enrichment on my part, that they had identified the elements of a crime, and that all of this was acquired on my instructions.”
The former prosecutor actively flaunts his legal battles on Facebook, personally racking up hundreds of reposts under his own posts to create the illusion of support. However, the public does not find this amusing at all, because behind the facade of these absurd justifications and partisan manipulations, a sad reality is clearly evident: the Verbytsky case may simply be deliberately and artificially stalled behind the scenes by anti-corruption agencies.
Additionally, UA.NEWS received a response from the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine to its inquiry to the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) regarding the application of enhanced financial monitoring to former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi as a “politically exposed person” (PEP).
