Yuriy Hudymenko, Head of the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, has called for systemic restrictions on citizens avoiding military service, including frozen bank accounts and restricted political rights. However, public attention has recently drawn to the fact that his brother-in-law—41-year-old Mykhailo Plokhotnikov—remains unmobilized and continues to work as a fitness coach in Zaporizhzhia.
Hudymenko, who was elected to lead the Defence Ministry’s Public Anti-Corruption Council in January 2025, advocates for a firm state policy regarding individuals violating military registration rules. The council head has not publicly addressed the situation involving his close relative.
The individual in question is Mykhailo Plokhotnikov (born 1985), the husband of Hudymenko’s sister, Olena. Plokhotnikov works as a trainer at the «Real» sports club in Zaporizhzhia—Hudymenko’s hometown—and has not been called up for military service. Following public attention surrounding the matter, Plokhotnikov set his personal Instagram account (under the handle «miha_hemi») to private.
«Systemic restrictions are required for those evading military service, specifically the blocking of bank accounts and limitations on political rights.»
Yuriy Hudymenko is widely known as a co-founder of the «DemSokyra» (Democratic Axe) political party. On the day of the full-scale invasion, February 24, 2022, he was in Mariupol engaging in volunteer efforts.
He subsequently joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, serving as a sapper in the 130th Battalion of the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade. Hudymenko participated in the defense of the Kyiv region—including operations in Irpin—and later saw action in the Kharkiv region, where he was wounded in battle in June 2022.