Ukraine Suspects MasterChef Contestant of Collecting Military Pay During Filming

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation has notified a military officer of suspicion over filming MasterChef while officially hospitalized. Ukrainian media identified the senior lieutenant as Viktoriia Kuznetsova, a contestant on the cooking competition’s 16th season. Investigators allege she avoided military duties for months while continuing to receive payments totaling nearly 250,000 hryvnias.

Filming While Officially Hospitalized

According to the bureau’s November 6 announcement, the officer was registered as an inpatient between April and August 2025. Investigators say she instead spent much of that period outside the hospital. Her reported movements included Kyiv, Kharkiv and the Odesa region, alongside participation in MasterChef filming.

Military commanders continued authorizing payments because they believed she remained under medical care. Investigators estimate the resulting state losses at nearly 250,000 hryvnias.

Military Unit Raised Concerns

Ukraine’s 15th Transport Aviation Brigade previously identified Kuznetsova as a serving officer in March 2026. The brigade said promotional footage prompted an internal investigation into her participation in the television program. The program presented her as a former servicewoman, though the brigade said she was still serving.

Its findings indicated she filmed in Kyiv while officially receiving treatment at a military hospital in Dnipro. The brigade subsequently transferred its findings to investigators. The case adds to wider scrutiny of Ukraine’s wartime manpower rules, including how draft-age men abroad seek return guidance.

Fraud Investigation Continues

Kuznetsova faces suspicion of evading military service through deception and committing fraud under martial law. Investigators are also examining whether hospital personnel assisted in preparing documents that falsely confirmed inpatient treatment.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no conviction has been reported. The bureau emphasized that guilt must be established by a court. Separate coverage of Ukraine’s air war has tracked Ukrainian F-16 crews claiming thousands of drone shootdowns.