$250,000 for sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council: case against MP Anna Skorokhod and her aide sent to court

The case against Ukrainian MP Anna Skorokhod and her aide, whom investigators link to an attempt to arrange for NSDC sanctions to be imposed in exchange for $250,000, has been sent to court. On October 7, 2026, a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, based on materials from the NABU pre-trial investigation, sent the indictment to court. NABU’s official statement does not name the MP, but public reports about the case identify her as Anna Skorokhod.

According to investigators, members of a criminal group offered a businessperson’s representative a way to secure sanctions against a competitor company for $250,000. The suspects claimed they could ensure the relevant decision was adopted through officials in government agencies, including the NSDC. Investigators describe the MP herself as the “guarantor” that the decision would be made.

To disguise the transfer of the money, the company representative was offered a promissory note for a purported loan. The first part of the sum—$125,000—was then handed over. According to NABU, after receiving the money, the “client” was assured that it would be passed on to NSDC officials. As further proof of their capabilities, the scheme’s participants provided a photograph of an annex to the sanctions lists.

However, no money was actually transferred to NSDC officials. According to investigators, the group’s members could not find an official willing to engage in illegal activity, and the necessary decision to impose sanctions on the competitor company was never adopted.

The actions of the criminal group’s members have been classified under Part 4 of Article 27 and Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—incitement to offer an undue advantage to an official holding a particularly responsible position.

A verdict has already been issued in the case against one of the accomplices. He entered into a plea agreement, admitted his guilt, and agreed to provide incriminating testimony against the other participants. The court sentenced him to 5 years in prison but released him from serving the sentence subject to a probation period. In addition, the convicted man donated UAH 700,000 to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the United24 fund.

The pre-trial investigation in the case was completed on June 26, 2026, after which the defense was granted access to the case materials. The indictment has now been sent to court.

At the same time, under Part 1 of Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.

We previously reported:

• Nearly 4 years of failing to appear in a bribery case: incumbent MP taken to a detention center
• Call centers, an ex-wife, and $1 million: a new criminal case emerges involving Tyshchenko
• Another land grab involving state property: SBU and NABU expose the same MP again
• NABU under cover: Tymoshenko alleges covert operations by a Mykolaiv MP
• “Let my wife go”: husband of MP Kormyshkina pressured police, NABU recordings show