Ukrainian officer faces criminal investigation for faking hospitalization to appear on MasterChef

The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation has officially opened a criminal case against Air Force Captain Viktoriia Kuznietsova, who allegedly evaded military duties by faking medical leave. While officially listed as a patient in a military hospital in Dnipro, investigators discovered that the officer was actually participating in the filming of the popular television cooking competition MasterChef.

The alleged scheme took place between April and August 2025. According to the investigation, Kuznietsova, a member of the 15th Transport Aviation Brigade, received approximately 250,000 hryvnias (about €5,000) in salary and allowances while absent from both her unit and the hospital. Authorities are currently examining the circumstances of these payments and the potential involvement of medical staff in facilitating the deception.

This incident has drawn significant attention from military justice officials. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full extent of the fraud and identify other individuals who may have assisted the officer in falsifying her medical records.