---
title: "Mykhailo Podolyak suggests that Ukrainian elites are all thieves because of their Russianness"
claim_id: "55zhKqf3LI26jMxcIyHj"
validity: 5
model: accounts/fireworks/models/kimi-k2p6
---

# Claim: Mykhailo Podolyak suggests that Ukrainian elites are all thieves because of their Russianness

Verdict: 5%
Model: Kimi K2.6
Checked on: 15/05/2026

## Verdict explanation

Based on my research of available sources and claims databases, here is my analysis:

**Reasoning:**

- I found no evidence that Mykhailo Podolyak ever stated Ukrainian elites are "all thieves because of their Russianness." This specific formulation does not appear in any verified sources[^1][^2][^3][^4][^5][^6].
- What Podolyak has actually said is that corruption in Ukraine is partly a legacy of Kremlin influence systems. Following a November 2025 energy sector corruption scandal, he stated: "This is a logical continuation of the past, when the Kremlin has been creating a system for decades to keep Ukraine in its sphere of influence. Corruption was one of its main tools, and the remnants of this mechanism still exist"[^5][^7].
- Podolyak has separately criticized *Russian* (not Ukrainian) behavior, calling theft and looting "the true content of modern 'Russian culture'" in the context of Russia stealing Ukrainian museum artifacts from occupied territories[^1]. He has also said "Russia lacks the necessary skills for this—their only 'skill' is theft"[^2]. These comments were directed at Russia's actions during the invasion, not at Ukrainian elites.
- Podolyak has also described corruption as "an integral part of the modern economy" in both democracies and authoritarian systems generally—a universal observation, not an ethnic accusation[^8][^6].
- The claim appears to conflate Podolyak's criticism of Kremlin-era corruption networks in Ukraine with unrelated comments he made about Russian cultural practices, distorting both into a false attribution about Ukrainian elites being thieves due to Russian ethnicity.
- Other sources discussing "thieves" in relation to Russian elites (such as Roman Sheremeta's analysis of Russia's "prison code" culture)[^9] are misattributed to Podolyak in this claim.

**Overall validity**: 5%

[^1]:
    [Podolyak: Russia is completely plundering every center of Ukrainian culture – Balkanweb.com - News24](https://www.balkanweb.com/en/Podolyak-Russia-is-completely-robbing-every-center-of-Ukrainian-culture/)

[^2]:
    [Mykhailo Podolyak: Ukraine’s Victory Over Russia Was Undermined by the West’s Hesitation and Indecision - Delfi EN](https://www.delfi.lt/en/politics/mykhailo-podolyak-ukraine-s-victory-over-russia-was-undermined-by-the-west-s-hesitation-and-indecision-120075558)

[^3]:
    [Mykhailo Podolyak - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykhailo_Podolyak)

[^4]:
    [Zelenskyy advisor: Defeat in Ukraine will spark collapse of Putin regime - Atlantic Council](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/zelenskyy-advisor-defeat-in-ukraine-will-spark-collapse-of-putin-regime/)

[^5]:
    [Zelensky's advisor blamed Moscow for corruption in the Ukrainian government.](https://en.topwar.ru/273655-v-korrupcii-vo-vlasti-ukrainy-sovetnik-zelenskogo-obvinil-moskvu.html)

[^6]:
    [Podolyak called corruption an integral part of Ukraine’s economy | Censor.NET](https://censor.net/en/news/3585258/podolyak-called-corruption-an-integral-part-of-ukraine-s-economy)

[^7]:
    [Who would doubt: Podolyak accused of corruption on Ukraine Kremlin](https://www.eadaily.com/en/news/2025/11/13/who-would-doubt-podolyak-accused-of-corruption-on-ukraine-kremlin)

[^8]:
    [Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky's office, called corruption an integral part of the economy. | World News | Izvestia | 15.11.2025](https://iz.ru/en/1991018/2025-11-15/podolyak-adviser-zelenskys-office-called-corruption-integral-part-economy)

[^9]:
    [Roman Sheremeta](https://www.facebook.com/roman.sheremeta.7/posts/prison-code-of-russia-pcrduring-his-speech-at-the-fifth-summit-of-first-ladies-a/10162146762622549/)

## Sources using this claim (1)

- ["Ukrainians are all corrupt because they are still Russian" Senior Ukrainian advisor to the corrupt …](/source/x:BowesChay:2055318437191098473) — Unknown — 14 views