Ukrainian Court Blocks 3 Million Hryvnia Donation to Military Fund

Volunteer activist Serhiy Sternenko publicly stated that a judge of Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS), Iryna Teslenko, refused to approve a plea agreement between a deputy from the banned Opposition Platform — For Life (OPZZ) party and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP). Under the agreement, the deputy was obligated to donate 3 million hryvnias to the Come Back Alive (Povernys Zhyvym) military fundraising fund.

The judge's decision blocked the donation from reaching the fund. According to Sternenko, the judge determined that such a donation was not an appropriate component of the plea arrangement.

Context: Come Back Alive Fund

Come Back Alive (Povernys Zhyvym) is one of Ukraine's most respected and best-known charitable funds that provides critical support to Ukrainian military personnel, supplying them with equipment, intelligence systems, and other essential military needs. The fund has been active since 2014 and has raised hundreds of millions of hryvnias throughout the war.

The prospect of a pro-Russian party deputy's funds reaching such a military organization was seen by many as a form of restorative justice, with money that might have been linked to anti-Ukrainian activity being redirected toward the country's defense.

OPZZ Party and VAKS

The Opposition Platform — For Life was a Ukrainian political party with pro-Russian positions that was banned after the full-scale Russian invasion. Many of its members have faced legal proceedings under Ukrainian law. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the VAKS court handle high-profile corruption cases in Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure.

The blocking of the plea agreement by Judge Teslenko has drawn public attention and criticism from civil society activists who viewed the donation as a tangible contribution to Ukraine's war effort as part of accountability proceedings.