24-year-old Elizaveta Ivakhnenko, a figure in the NABU and SAP "Carthage" case under the code name "Muza," once again became the subject of attention not only because of the charges but also because of her appearance. At the VAKS court hearing, during which a measure of restraint was being chosen for her, the young woman appeared in a chestnut-colored jacket with graphic sleeves from the Ukrainian brand Aura. According to data posted on the atelier's official website, the outfit costs 13,600 hryvnias. Online observers noted that this time Ivakhnenko's look appeared noticeably more "modest" than her previous court appearances.
Chronology: from Yves Saint Laurent to a Ukrainian atelier
Earlier, on September 6, "Muza" came to court in an Yves Saint Laurent jacket with an estimated cost of 2,650 euros. After criticism on social media, she took off the jacket, leaving herself in a T-shirt from the Ukrainian brand Cartel 13. Thus, by the September 7 hearing, Ivakhnenko had opted for the domestic brand Aura, which observers interpreted as a reaction to the public resonance around her "expensive" looks. The defendant's stylistic choice, in effect, turned into a separate media story accompanying the court proceedings.
Measure of restraint: detention with an alternative of a 20 million hryvnia bail
On September 7, after the hearing ended, the situation for Ivakhnenko changed dramatically. The High Anti-Corruption Court chose a measure of restraint in the form of detention with the alternative of posting bail in the amount of 20 million hryvnias. She was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. This decision has been confirmed by several Ukrainian media outlets, citing the course of the proceedings at the VAKS.
The prosecution's version and financial schemes
According to the prosecution, Ivakhnenko is a close associate of Serhiy Krapiva, referred to on the recordings as the "Chancellor," and may have been involved in a scheme to launder illicit funds. Prosecutors cited, among other things, recordings of conversations in which money, property, and ways of concealing assets were discussed. In one such recording, Ivakhnenko talks about hiding items and property from her Instagram — the conversation involved a Porsche car, Loro Piana items, watches, bracelets, bags, and fur coats. Separately, the prosecution pointed to the possible use of Ivakhnenko's mother's accounts for financial operations: according to the investigation, she received 1.78 million hryvnias between April and June 2026.
Context of the "Carthage" case
Ivakhnenko is implicated in the "Carthage" special operation, linked to the activities of a network of fraudulent call centers. The materials released by the NABU contain the pseudonyms of the participants, including "Muza" and the "Chancellor." For observers, the case has become not only a legal but also a media phenomenon: the defendant's public looks and their cost are regularly discussed in connection with the money-laundering charges, which heightens public interest in each of her court appearances.
