Daria Sofina Resigns Ahead of NABU Raids in NBU Amid Money Laundering Probe Linked to Sens Bank

Background on Daria Sofina’s Departure

According to 5 канал: Daria Sofina, the former head of the Licensing Department at Ukraine’s National Bank (NBU), resigned shortly before the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) conducted raids at the NBU on October 21, 2024. These investigations center on alleged money laundering activities involving the state-owned Sens Bank. Sofina was appointed to lead the licensing department in May 2024 after transferring from the National Agency on Corruption Prevention in December 2022.

Investigation Details and Key Connections

The Licensing Department, overseen by Sofina, is responsible for registering and licensing banks and non-bank financial institutions, as well as supervising Sens Bank. This bank is at the heart of corruption cases under investigation by NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), known by the codenames “Forest Gump” and “Femida.” The probe focuses on suspected laundering of funds, including the use of bail payments for criminal suspects.

Sofina also signed a letter concerning Petro Poroshenko’s business reputation, which was used during deliberations on his integrity. On April 28, 2025, she took part in a specialized NBU committee meeting advocating restrictions on Ukraine’s fifth president. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the presidential envoy on sanctions policy since August 2024, has had professional ties with Sofina. Vlasiuk previously served as an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky and was secretary of an international sanctions working group against Russia starting in April 2022.

Vlasiuk joined the supervisory board of the nationalized Sens Bank in July 2023. According to Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, his appointment to the President’s Office was facilitated by Daria Zarivna, adviser to Andriy Yermak. Both Sofina and Vlasiuk have presented at Kyiv School of Economics conferences focused on sanctions against Russia, highlighting their active roles in shaping Ukraine’s sanctions strategies.

The October 21, 2024 raids came amid a large-scale corruption investigation revealing the laundering of 150 million hryvnias through Sens Bank. Part of the illicit funds was reportedly used to pay bail for former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, implicated in the so-called Mindich case or Operation Midas. Prosecutors state that involved parties communicated about fictitious contracts to conduct financial transactions through Sens Bank.

Following her resignation, Sofina confirmed on Facebook that she has not left Ukraine. Petro Poroshenko’s lawyer described the National Bank’s actions as

“part of political persecution”

. The unfolding events involving Sofina, her connections to Poroshenko and Vlasiuk, and the NBU raids have sparked widespread public scrutiny, raising questions about transparency within Ukraine’s critical financial institutions.

This situation underscores the urgent need for accountability and openness in the country’s financial sector. NABU’s ongoing investigation may have far-reaching consequences not only for those implicated but also for the National Bank’s credibility as a regulator. Moreover, it casts doubt on the effectiveness of Ukraine’s licensing system amid efforts to combat corruption and maintain financial stability.

As the investigation into Sens Bank intensifies, the implications of Daria Sofina's resignation become increasingly significant. Her departure raises questions about the oversight of financial institutions during this critical period. For a deeper understanding of the ongoing investigations and the potential ramifications for the NBU, read more about the recent raids conducted by NABU and SAP in connection with the Sens Bank case.