The «Sternenko Community» Charitable Foundation received 56.9 million hryvnias as part of plea agreements in anti-corruption cases. The information was confirmed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), which announced on 6 November that they had signed a memorandum of cooperation with the organisation. Meanwhile, the agreement with former MP Serhiy Pashynsky provides for a further 100 million hryvnias to be transferred to the foundation. These decisions have drawn criticism on social media and raised questions about the process for determining the recipients of the funds.
- The Sternenko Foundation received 56.9 million hryvnias under agreements with the investigating authorities.
- These funds were used to purchase drones, interceptors and an unmanned aerial system.
- Pashynsky’s agreement provides for an additional 100 million hryvnias for the fund.
- The collaboration between NABU, the SAPO and the foundation has drawn criticism on social media.
NABU and the SAPO have disclosed how they spent nearly 57 million hryvnias
According to official figures from the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the «Sternenko Community» foundation received 56,888,932 hryvnias under agreements with the investigating authorities. The funds were used to purchase equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces. In particular, the foundation reported the transfer of 2,060 FPV drones, 25 «Shahed» interceptor drones and one unmanned aerial vehicle system to the Defence Forces.
The signed memorandum provides for the exchange of information on prices and procurement in the defence sector, as well as regular reporting on the use of funds obtained in the course of criminal proceedings. The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) has stated that it will publish the relevant reports on its websites.
In late October, Transparency International Ukraine also investigated the use of funds from such agreements. According to information provided by the foundation, during 2025 and the first nine months of 2026, the organisation received almost 52 million hryvnias in connection with five criminal proceedings. The foundation gave assurances that it had not spent these funds on its own administrative needs.
Pashynsky’s agreement provides for a further 100 million hryvnias for the fund
Particular attention was drawn to the plea agreement reached with former Member of Parliament Serhiy Pashynsky in the case concerning the misappropriation of seized petroleum products. The High Anti-Corruption Court approved the agreement under which the former politician undertook to pay a total of 1.1 billion hryvnias.
Of this sum, 600 million hryvnias are to be paid into the state budget over a period of two and a half years, 400 million hryvnias are earmarked for the «Come Back Alive» fund or for the supply of weapons on its behalf, and a further 100 million hryvnias for the «Sternenko Community». The latter payment is intended for the purchase of weapons for the Defence Forces.
These 100 million hryvnias constitute a separate obligation under the agreement Pashynsky and are not included in the 56.9 million UAH in receipts already confirmed by the SAP. There is currently no public confirmation that the full amount under this agreement has actually been transferred.
The collaboration with the Sternenko Foundation has been criticised on social media
A political commentator has responded to the statement from the anti-corruption authorities Mykhailo Schneider. He published screenshots of comments from users who questioned the wisdom of channelling funds from criminal settlements specifically into the fund Sergiy Sternenko.
Schneider also referred to previous public allegations against the activist regarding the use of charitable donations. However, the comments and allegations he made do not in themselves constitute evidence of any irregularities in the foundation’s activities. The question of whether the choice of the recipient was justified remains a matter of public debate.
The mechanism for identifying charitable organisations in such agreements is particularly noteworthy. At present, in public notices NABU However, the SAP has not provided a detailed explanation of the specific criteria used to include the «Sternenko Community» in the agreement with Pashynsky, nor of who initiated its selection.
That said, the legality of the agreement approved by the court and the transparency of the subsequent use of the funds are separate issues. The memorandum signed on 6 November provides for additional reporting on procurement, but does not disclose the procedure for the initial selection of funds.
