From the World to Warsaw: how Lutsk elected officials acted abroad during the war

Between 2023 and 2025, more than half of the deputies of the Lutsk City Council, namely 25 out of 42 elected representatives, received permits for foreign business trips. The duration of these trips varied: some deputies traveled for a few days, while others were abroad for more than five months.

The Center for Investigative Journalism’s “Force of Truth” analyzed more than 100 documents, including letters to the State Border Service and orders issued by the city council. This made it possible to find out which deputies traveled and where.

Among the information collected, Deputy Roman Bondaruk spent more than five months outside Ukraine, visiting the Slovak city of Svit, where he has a joint business. Deputy Oksana Stepaniuk was abroad for three months, making 19 trips to Poland, where she teaches at a school. Iryna Chebelyuk spent 80 days abroad, developing ties with Germany, Belgium, and Poland.

In early 2023, the Ukrainian government banned travel abroad for MPs, local councils, judges, prosecutors, and civil servants. At that time, travel abroad was only possible for official business. Only in August 2025 did Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announce a decision to lift restrictions on MPs working voluntarily, making their travel easier.

It is also worth noting that the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court granted MP Serhiy Labazyuk’s request to temporarily travel to Moldova to participate in negotiations on the development of livestock and beekeeping, even though a case was opened against him on charges of corruption.