State Investigators Launch Case Against 'MasterChef' Contestant Over Alleged Fake Medical Leave to Dodge Military Duty.

Criminal Investigation Initiated

According to TSN.ua: Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) has opened a criminal case against Victoria Kuznetsova, a former contestant on the cooking show "MasterChef." Authorities allege she evaded military service by undergoing treatment at a military medical facility—treatment they now claim was fraudulent. Instead of fulfilling her duties in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kuznetsova is said to have participated in television filming for the show.

Service Record and Probe Details

Kuznetsova, who has served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2015, holds the position of navigator in an aviation unit of a transport squadron. According to the investigation, she was officially registered for inpatient treatment from April 14 to August 16, 2025—a hospitalization authorities believe was fabricated. During that period, from April 22 to August 11, 2025, she was actually present in Kyiv and the surrounding Kyiv region.

While listed as hospitalized, Kuznetsova continued to receive her military salary, bonuses, and other allowances. The case has been opened under Article 409, Part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of five to ten years in prison. Kuznetsova was eliminated from the show in its 17th episode. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details have not yet been disclosed.

This case shines a spotlight on the broader issue of draft evasion in Ukraine, particularly amid the ongoing war.

Forged documents and deception not only harm individual offenders but also undermine the systems designed to protect national security. The outcome of this investigation could set a significant precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.