The wife of Ihor Shtepa, the head of the Territorial Service Center (TSC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Poltava region, has come under intense public scrutiny over regular, costly trips to concerts abroad during martial law. Information recently circulated on social media regarding Daria Shtepa’s latest trip to the European Union to attend a concert by singer Ricky Martin alongside Poltava-based blogger Alyona Ishchenko. The public and media have raised sharp questions about the stark mismatch between the civil servant’s official family income and these leisure expenses, sparking calls for an official anti-corruption probe.
According to the leaked reports, Daria Shtepa, who is officially unemployed and raising two children, attended a performance by pop star Ricky Martin in an EU country. While a general admission floor ticket costs roughly €125, the total expense of the trip is estimated to be significantly higher. Additional costs factored into the journey include international transit, hotel accommodations, dining, and childcare services during the mother’s absence.
Sources note that this is not the first such voyage made by the official’s wife in the company of prominent Poltava influencer Alyona Ishchenko. Footage of their vacation shared in the public domain has triggered a wave of criticism regarding the appropriateness of displaying a luxury lifestyle while the war continues.
The primary concern currently raised by investigators and the public is the origin of the funds financing these regular vacations abroad. According to the official financial disclosure submitted by Ihor Shtepa, his salary as a Ministry of Internal Affairs TSC chief does not account for such expenditures, especially given that his wife reports no independent income.
«Where do the funds come from, considering we have all seen Mr. Shtepa’s official asset declaration?» authors of the initial report questioned, hinting at potential hidden sources of revenue.
Due to the glaring discrepancy between the family’s declared income and their actual standard of living, public activists are demanding immediate action from law enforcement agencies. Representatives of the National Police’s Internal Security Department, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) are now being urged to monitor the Poltava official’s lifestyle and provide a formal legal assessment.