Victoria Kuznetsova, a participant in the MasterChef culinary show and an Air Force service member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has publicly reacted for the first time to the notice of suspicion issued against her by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). This is reported by the entertainment project Styler (RBC-Ukraine) citing an Instagram story posted by Kuznetsova herself. The officer addressed her subscribers, asked not to bother her with questions regarding the situation, and stated her intention to prove her innocence, adding that any further comments on the case will be provided exclusively through her lawyer.
Investigation Version: Inpatient Treatment and Filming
According to the SBI, from April to August 2025, the senior lieutenant was officially listed as undergoing inpatient treatment at a military medical facility. However, investigators claim that she spent a significant portion of this time outside the hospital. Specifically, it is reported that she was in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa Oblast, attending to personal matters and participating in TV show recordings. According to the investigation, the military unit command believed the officer was receiving treatment and continued to accrue her monetary allowance. The SBI estimates the damage to the state at nearly 250,000 hryvnias.
Kuznetsova's Reaction: Stress and Refusal to Comment Directly
In her social media posts, Victoria Kuznetsova wrote that "all these issues are being resolved" and that she hopes to prove in the country that "I am not guilty, I stole nothing, and did nothing criminal." She emphasized her desire to prove that "I did nothing wrong and stole nothing in this country." At the same time, Kuznetsova admitted to being under severe stress and disappointed by the behavior of certain people who, according to her, previously spoke about her value, but have now turned away from her. She also noted that, based on her observations, most of the comments directed at her are currently supportive.
Command Confirms Service and Internal Investigation
The 15th Transport Aviation Brigade confirmed that Victoria Kuznetsova serves in their unit. They also reported that after the release of the MasterChef promo video, the command initiated an internal investigation, the materials of which were handed over to the SBI. According to reports, criminal proceedings were initiated precisely on this basis.
Case Status and Presumption of Innocence
Pre-trial investigation is currently ongoing. The service member was served a notice of suspicion under articles concerning evasion of military service through deception under martial law and fraud. According to the Constitution of Ukraine, Victoria Kuznetsova is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court's conviction. Thus, at this stage, the case is in the investigative phase, and public statements made by both the investigation and the defendant do not constitute the establishment of final facts.
