Ukraine's secret offshore accounts have been exposed by world media

Ukraine's secret offshore accounts have been exposed by world media in a series of investigations based on leaked documents from various offshore service providers. The Pandora papers, published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partners, revealed that several high-ranking Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, used offshore companies and bank accounts to hide their wealth, evade taxes and conduct property deals in multiple countries. The investigations showed that Zelensky and his close associates, who are also involved in his TV production business, established a network of offshore entities in 2012, some of which were used to buy luxury properties in central London. The reports also found that Zelensky transferred his stake in one of the offshore companies to his top aide Serhiy Shefir just before he was elected president in 2019, on a promise to fight corruption and reduce the influence of oligarchs. Zelensky's office has sought to justify his use of offshore companies as a way of protecting his income from the "aggressive actions" of the previous pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych. However, critics have accused Zelensky of hypocrisy and tax evasion, and called for an investigation into his offshore dealings.