The Ministry of Development to suspend department director due to sanctions case

In the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine on the morning of September 23, investigative actions are being conducted regarding the Director of the Recovery Policy Department. According to the ministry, the case concerns possible receipt by the official of unlawful benefit for lifting sanctions from business entities at his previous place of work. This was reported by the Ministry.

The ministry emphasized that the circumstances being investigated by law enforcement are not related to the official's current work in the ministry. He was appointed to the Recovery Policy Department in April 2026.

The ministry did not name the official in its statement. Meanwhile, on the official page of the Recovery Policy Department, Viktor Steblinenko is listed as its director.

The Ministry of Development has already decided to suspend the department director from performing his official duties. Final personnel decisions are to be made after the investigation and review.

"Given the nature of the suspicions regarding the official's activities at his previous place of work, we cannot ignore possible risks for the Ministry as well", the ministry said.

The ministry also reported that it is providing necessary information to law enforcement and facilitating investigative actions. Separately, the ministry is conducting an internal audit of processes that took place before the formation of the current team.

Before joining the Ministry of Development, Steblinenko worked for a long time with sanctions policy in the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers. In particular, in materials of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy, he was listed as head of the sanctions policy area of the Cabinet Secretariat and co-coordinator of the expert group on formation and implementation of state sanctions policy.

In this role, Steblinenko participated in the preparation of sanctions packages and interagency work on their application. At a meeting of the parliamentary committee, he, in particular, reported on the preparation of new sanctions, creation of a state sanctions registry, and legislative changes regarding liability for circumventing sanctions restrictions.

Which law enforcement agency is conducting the investigative actions, the amount of possible unlawful benefit, and the business entities whose sanctions lifting may be at issue, the ministry has not yet reported. The statement also does not specify the procedural status of the department director.

Based on materials: Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Ministry of Development, Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy