Questionable personnel changes are taking place at the State Financial Monitoring Service, the body responsible for financial intelligence and sanctions compliance. The team led by Philip Pronin is being replenished with individuals who either lack the necessary experience or have a dubious reputation.
Key positions are filled by people connected to Pronin through personal or business relationships. In particular, Bohdan Korolchuk, who worked with him in the Poltava Regional State Administration, became the first deputy head. The families of both officials have a joint business, and Korolchuk's family recently purchased expensive housing in Kyiv, which raises additional questions.
Another "own" figure is Vitaliy Teslenko, who after working with Pronin at ARMA purchased an apartment worth $140,000, although he had no official income for such a purchase. According to him, it was a gift from his 80-year-old mother.
In addition, the chief specialist in financial terrorism was Dmytro Zarkhin, known for his publications with anti-Ukrainian content back in 2014. This raises serious doubts about his loyalty and competence.
Diana Vier, who previously worked at the well-known fast food chain McDonald's, was appointed to the budget sector risk analysis department. Meanwhile, Dmytro Prachuk, who had no previous experience working in government structures, became a specialist in investigating foreign risks.
Kateryna Peshykova, who previously worked as a photographer and in the press service of the Poltava Regional State Administration, became the chief specialist for the development of financial monitoring. At the same time, she continues to engage in commercial photography and was unable to clearly explain her new responsibilities.
All this raises reasonable questions: how can such personnel effectively conduct financial intelligence and protect the interests of the state? After all, the security of the Ukrainian financial system depends on the professionalism of these people.
