A Ukrainian lawyer who for years has played a quiet but influential role in shaping legislation inside Ukraine’s parliament was previously involved in projects financed by a Kremlin-linked foundation now under European Union sanctions, according to a new investigation that has raised fresh national security concerns amid the country’s ongoing war with Russia.

The findings, published by Schemes, the investigative journalism unit of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Ukrainian service, are based on leaked internal documents from Pravfond, a foundation established by the Russian government to support so-called “compatriots” living abroad. Pravfond has been sanctioned by the European Union for activities viewed as part of Russia’s broader influence operations.

According to the investigation, the official at the center of the revelations is Yana Salmina, a lawyer who since 2019 has served as a senior consultant in the Verkhovna Rada’s Main Scientific and Expert Department. The department plays a critical role in Ukraine’s legislative process, preparing expert opinions and analyses that lawmakers must review before voting on draft laws.

Schemes reports that Salmina authored or co-authored at least 250 expert opinions reviewed across 17 parliamentary committees. Much of her work focused on agriculture and land policy, areas that have been central to Ukraine’s economic reforms and international commitments in recent years.

Her role extended beyond economic legislation. The investigation found that Salmina provided expert input on at least three occasions after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence-one of the most sensitive bodies in the legislature during wartime.

While there is no evidence cited that her parliamentary work directly advanced Russian interests, the revelation of her earlier involvement with a Kremlin-backed funding source has triggered scrutiny from Ukrainian authorities and renewed debate........

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