Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau accuses Zelenskyy’s MPs of selling parliamentary votes

Several lawmakers from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party have been officially notified of suspicion in a vote-buying scheme, according to statements released by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies.

Anti-corruption agencies issue formal suspicions to three MPs

On 27 December 2025, Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs—National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office—announced that an undercover operation exposed an organized group involving sitting MPs who systematically received illicit payments in return for votes. Based on sources in law enforcement and the Servant of the People faction, ZN.UA reported that formal suspicion was handed to three lawmakers: Yevhen Pyvovarov, Ihor Nehulevskyi, and Yurii Kisiel.

All three were charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers the acceptance of a proposal, promise, or unlawful benefit by an official. ZN.UA noted that Kisiel’s office had previously been under surveillance by anti-corruption detectives, who allegedly recorded MPs receiving cash-filled envelopes on-site.

In addition to Article 368, the court ruling referenced two other provisions: Article 255, which concerns the creation or participation in a criminal organization, and Article 369, which involves offering or providing unlawful benefits to officials. Investigators have not ruled out the addition of these charges as the case progresses, ZN says.

Fourth MP flees Ukraine, fifth under questioning

Though not formally charged, Servant of the People lawmaker Yurii Koriavchenkov — widely known from his time with Zelesnskyy's Kvartal 95 studio under the stage name "Yuzik" — reportedly left the country during the course of the investigation. ZN.UA sources noted that this does not exclude future charges being brought against him. Meanwhile, Taras Melnychuk, who heads the secretariat of the Servant of the People faction in the current IX convocation of the Verkhovna Rada, was interrogated by investigators.

Surveillance and past scandals

Earlier this month, ZN.UA reported that anti-corruption officers had placed wiretaps inside Yurii Kisiel’s office, capturing confidential contacts not only with former top presidential aide Serhii Shefir, but also with numerous high-level officials seen as sensitive for the Presidential Office. According to sources, the surveillance led investigators to what they described as a “cash window” used to distribute off-the-books payments to faction members.

The broader scheme has been under investigation since the tenure of NABU’s former director Artem Sytnyk. It echoes earlier claims by the now-deceased MP Anton Poliakov, who stated that MPs were receiving unofficial “salaries” in envelopes — allegedly $5,000 for regular deputies and $10,000–15,000 for committee heads and deputy heads. One key intermediary, Oleksandr Trukhin, previously admitted guilt and reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.