Prosecutors in Estonia have leveled charges of misappropriating donations against the head of a pro-Ukraine advocacy group, according to domestic news outlet ERR.
In a shocking turn of events, Johanna-Maria Lehtme, co-founder and former head of the pro-Ukrainian NGO "Glory to Ukraine," is facing formal embezzlement charges filed by the Estonian Office of the Prosecutor General. The charges, related to her actions as the founder of the NGO, accuse her of breach of trust and large-scale embezzlement involving donation funds.
The investigation, a joint effort by Estonian and Ukrainian authorities, spanning over two years, has revealed that Lehtme entered into agreements with Ukrainian company IC Construction from August 2022. These agreements, it is alleged, led to inflated prices for humanitarian aid supplies compared to a previous partner NGO, resulting in a loss of approximately €450,000 that could have been better spent on humanitarian aid.
The investigation found that each transaction with IC Construction was conducted at an inflated price. The kickbacks from these inflated prices were received by Ukrainian Gennady Vasykiv, the current director of IC Construction and head of the All for Victory fund. However, there is no evidence that Lehtme personally profited from the scheme.
The prosecutor's office estimates that these contracts and payments caused a damage of 413,000 euros to "Glory to Ukraine." Vasykiv, who left the country before being charged with the 2024 accusations, is not currently facing charges in Estonia for his role in the embezzlement of funds from "Glory to Ukraine."
The local publication ERR reports on these accusations against Johanna-Maria Lehtme. The NGO "Glory to Ukraine" is undergoing liquidation and has chosen not to pursue financial recovery claims. The case has been submitted to the Harju District Court as of August 2025, while Ukrainian proceedings continue in parallel concerning the onward handling of funds and involvement of third parties.
It is important to note that the alleged misconduct involved diverting aid funds through inflated contracts with IC Construction, contrasting with the previous NGO partner "All For Victory," which did not add profit margins. The criminal case was opened in May 2023, leading to an indictment against Lehtme for breach of trust and embezzlement by August 2025.
The total damage caused to "Glory to Ukraine" exceeds 450,000 euros. Vasykiv, who previously worked as deputy mayor of Lvov, is not directly related to the charges against Johanna-Maria Lehtme. The accusations against Lehtme involve charges of abuse of trust and embezzlement of funds.
[1] ERR News, "Estonian prosecutor accuses co-founder of NGO 'Glory to Ukraine' of embezzlement," August 2025. [2] Estonian Public Broadcasting, "NGO 'Glory to Ukraine' under investigation for financial misconduct," May 2023. [3] Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, "Ongoing investigation into financial flows and third-party involvement in NGO 'Glory to Ukraine' case," August 2025.
