The name of Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Olena Ferens, was publicly mentioned by a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) during a session at the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) regarding the high-profile ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Themis’ cases. The official currently holds no formal suspect status, and procedural reviews remain ongoing.
During the HACC court session, the SAP prosecutor listed several individuals mentioned in the case materials of the high-profile corruption investigations code-named ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Themis’. The inclusion of Deputy Minister of Justice Olena Ferens in this list has drawn significant attention from law enforcement and the public. However, prosecutors emphasize that a reference to an individual during court proceedings or in case files does not constitute a formal charge or proof of wrongdoing.
According to sources, Ferens is associated with Iryna Mudra, former Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who is already an official suspect in the ‘Forrest Gump’ investigation. Mudra stepped down from her role in the Presidential Office following searches and the formal serving of a notice of suspicion.
«The mention of an official’s name in SAP court proceedings at HACC does not equate to an official notice of suspicion or proven guilt; however, it indicates the direction of upcoming anti-corruption scrutiny.»
Olena Ferens has been serving within the Ministry of Justice for a considerable period and was appointed Deputy Minister in April 2025. According to her official electronic asset declaration for 2025, she reported an annual salary exceeding 2 million UAH.
Key declared assets include:
Real Estate: An apartment in Kyiv and two residential houses;
Vehicle: A Mercedes-Benz GLC 300;
Valuables & Savings: A luxury Hublot Big Bang wristwatch, $50,000 in cash, and over 225,000 UAH in bank accounts.
Unverified Allegations and Future Prospects
Unconfirmed media reports have also cited a potential trip by Ferens to the Russian Federation in 2021, along with an alleged temporary registration address in the Irkutsk region. Official confirmation regarding these claims remains absent, and the Deputy Minister has not publicly commented on the matter.
No direct evidence implicating Olena Ferens in illegal activities has been made public. Further developments and potential procedural actions will depend on the findings of ongoing investigations conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and SAP.