Ukrainian Lawmaker to Stand Trial for Soliciting $250,000 Sanctions Deal

A Ukrainian lawmaker and her assistant will soon stand trial for allegedly offering to arrange National Security and Defense Council (RNBO) sanctions against business competitors for $250,000. Ukraine’s anti-graft agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), said on Wednesday that the investigation was completed in June and the case has been sent to the court.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Earlier reports in December 2025, when the investigation was publicized, identified the lawmaker as Anna Skorokhod, a sitting member of the Verkhovna Rada. Skorokhod denied the charges. The two agencies said a “criminal group” offered the sanction package, while Skorokhod, unnamed in the agencies’ reports, served as a guarantor. However, Skorokhod is said to have taken $125,000 – half of the amount – and failed to find an RNBO official willing to enact the proposed sanctions. “According to the investigation, the money was promised to be transferred to officials of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine [RNBO] as payment for the sanction decision,” NABU wrote in its Wednesday press release. “After receiving $125,000, the ‘customer’ was assured that this part would be transferred to RNBO officials. In reality, the money remained with the attackers, as they were unable to find a person who would agree to commit illegal actions,” it added. Other Topics of Interest UK Announces Package of 31 Sanctions Against Russia The UK has imposed 31 new sanctions on Russia, targeting its LNG shadow fleet, propagandists, and officials linked to child deportations. The agencies added that one member of the criminal group became a witness by taking a plea deal, under which he was sentenced to 5 years in prison and exempted from serving the sentence by a probationary period. In addition, the person made a transfer of Hr.700,000 ($15,614) to support the Ukrainian military via the United 24 fund. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.