Position: Head of the Laboratory at the Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology.
Area of Corrupt Activity: Education.
Region of Corrupt Activity: Lviv Region.
Legal Qualification: The actions have been classified under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: At liberty.
Case Details: In late September 2026, police exposed Ivan Franko National University of Lviv associate professor Nadiia Zavalnytska and Oksana Hrynyk, Head of the Laboratory at the Hryhorii Skovoroda Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology (the university’s Dublyany campus), in an alleged bribery scheme. According to investigators, employees of the two universities organized a scheme under which men formally sat examination sessions at the veterinary university and obtained deferments from mobilization. At least 16 men liable for military service used the scheme.
According to the Lviv Region police and prosecutor’s office, the associate professor at the Lviv university implemented a scheme to receive bribes from students of mobilization age enrolled at another Lviv higher education institution.
“For monetary compensation, she helped men pass their examination sessions. As a result, students aged 25 and older avoided expulsion and retained their right to a deferment from conscription,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
To implement the scheme, the lecturer enlisted a former colleague from her previous place of employment—the head of the laboratory at the university where her clients were studying.
“According to the plan, students transferred money to the associate professor’s bank card, and she forwarded part of it to her accomplice’s account. The latter, in turn, was supposed to ensure that those who paid successfully completed their examination sessions without having to appear on the university premises,” the prosecutor’s office added. According to investigators, since 2023 the accomplices had arranged for at least 16 men to retain their deferments from conscription. “For example, during just one examination session in the previous academic year, they were documented receiving more than UAH 29,000 from two students,” the prosecutor’s office noted.
The associate professor and the laboratory head were notified of suspicion of obtaining an unlawful benefit in collusion by a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Law enforcement agencies have not disclosed further details. According to media reports, those caught in the alleged bribery scheme were Nadiia Zavalnytska, an associate professor at the Faculty of Financial Management and Business of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and a Candidate of Economic Sciences, and Oksana Hrynyk, Head of the Laboratory at the Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology.
Investigators are identifying other individuals involved in the scheme, including university lecturers. They are also identifying students who used the services of the suspects.
The day after the story was published, Nadiia Zavalnytska sent a letter to journalists stating that she had not been detained and had only been notified of suspicion. She also denied any involvement in the corruption scheme and said she would defend her position in court.
On September 29, the Halytskyi District Court imposed preventive measures on Nadiia Zavalnytska and Oksana Hrynyk: detention with the right to be released on bail of UAH 66,000 each.
Individuals Potentially Involved in Corruption Schemes: Those caught in the alleged bribery scheme were Nadiia Zavalnytska, an associate professor at the Faculty of Financial Management and Business of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and a Candidate of Economic Sciences, and Oksana Hrynyk, Head of the Laboratory at the Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology.
Assets: No income declarations for Hrynyk are available in open sources.
Authorities Responsible for Responding: Law enforcement agencies responded to the criminal activity in a timely manner by notifying the participants in the corruption scheme of suspicion.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme came to light, she had not been identified as a participant in any other scandals.
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