The HACC approved the plea agreement concluded between a SAPO prosecutor and Olena Sylka, chief accountant of State Enterprise Ukrpatent, finding her guilty of aiding the embezzlement of another's property through the abuse of official position by an official.
The prosecution's case was that in May–June 2022, former Ukrpatent director Andrii Kudin, acting in concert with acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy Olesia Savchuk and the head of the Breath of Mercy charitable organization Andrii Chornyi, carried out a scheme to embezzle the enterprise's funds. Chief accountant Olena Sylka, aware of the criminal intent, provided the documentary cover for the operation: she prepared amendments to the enterprise's financial plan and payment orders on the basis of which UAH 250,991,939.68 was transferred to the charitable organization's accounts — purportedly for the purchase of 3,000 bulletproof vests. In reality, the funds were never intended to be used for that purpose and were meant to be misappropriated.
Sylka's actions were charged under Articles 27(5) and 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Her cooperation with the investigation formed the basis for the plea agreement.
Under the agreement, Sylka undertook to cooperate with the prosecutor in exposing the other participants in the scheme — including the former Ukrpatent director, the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, and the head of the Breath of Mercy charitable organization — and to provide incriminating testimony and participate in investigative actions.
The HACC panel found the terms of the agreement to be lawful and in the public interest, taking into account the defendant's genuine remorse, her contribution to uncovering the crime, and the fact that she was not the scheme's initiator but merely an accomplice.
On November 13, 2025, the HACC imposed the agreed sentence: two years' imprisonment, a three-year ban on holding positions involving organizational and administrative functions, and confiscation of part of her property (a one-quarter share in one land plot and a further land plot in full). The court also granted a civil claim for over UAH 296 million.
The verdict entered into force on December 22, 2025.
