In Kherson region, the head of the village VA stopped paying bonuses

Since October 2025, Viktor Debeliy, the head of the Ivanivka village military administration in the Genichesk district, has no longer received a monthly bonus. This is due to the investigation of a corruption crime in which the official is suspected.

This was reported by the Center for Investigative Journalism.

According to the investigation, in early October 2025, it became known that officials of the Ivanivka Military Administration were charged with systematic extortion ofkickbacks from the bonuses of their subordinates. Criminal proceedings under Article 368, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obtaining an undue advantage by an official - were opened on September 18, 2024.

The suspects in the case are Debeliy himself, his first deputy Victoria Shchaslyva, and the head of the administration's accounting department.

First Deputy Head of the Kherson Regional State Administration Dmytro Butriy explained that it would be unfair to pay bonuses in such circumstances, as Debeliy was only notified of suspicion, and the investigation is still ongoing, and only after the court decision will it become clear whether payments will be resumed.

He also added that they are trying to use bonuses at the regional level to reward disciplined officials. According to him, this practice allows regulating the remuneration of heads of local VAs, who previously often set their own high salaries.

Butriy also noted that the work of the de-occupied communities on the right bank of the Kherson region is much more difficult, as they are constantly under fire and in extreme conditions, so it would be unfair if the head of the Mylivka community received less than her colleagues from communities in the rear.

Viktor Debeliy, 66, head of the Ivanivka village administration in the Genichesk district of Kherson region, his 40-year-old first deputy , Viktoriya Shchastliva, and the head of the accounting and reporting department of the administration are suspected of systematically extorting kickbacks from the bonuses of the administration and village council employees.

According to the investigation, from March 2023 to October 2024, they allegedly received more than UAH 930 thousand. All three face five to ten years in prison with confiscation of property.

Анна Бальчінос