13.04.2026 12:08
Victoria Yakimova, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Dominican Republic, was dismissed following the leak of photos from her modeling past. Yakimova responded harshly to the criticism, apologized, and stated that there was no diplomatic plan.
Victoria Yakimova, who was appointed as the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Dominican Republic but was removed from her position due to leaked photos from her modeling past, broke her silence by apologizing to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and responding harshly to the criticisms against her.
Yakimova, who was appointed last month by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrei Sybiha, had a very short diplomatic career. The former model, who has been living in the Dominican Republic since 2014 and is married to a Dominican, was removed from her position due to controversies that erupted on social media and political pressures.
Speaking to The Sun, Yakimova stated that she had no plans for diplomacy and that she was caught off guard by this process. She expressed her surprise at the reactions to her modeling past, stating that she was recognized as the most famous Ukrainian in the Dominican Republic throughout her career.
Yakimova said that people quickly resort to clichés, emphasizing that a woman can be both a model and capable of holding an educated, intelligent, and diplomatic position. Not only her modeling photos but also an old photo taken with the traditional Russian headdress, kokoshnik, had drawn significant backlash during the war period.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that they had initiated additional security checks and revoked Yakimova's credentials. Yakimova argued that this photo was a joke made among friends long before the war and was taken out of context.
Yakimova emphasized that she has never been ashamed of her past, reminding that she holds two separate master's degrees from Ukraine and the Dominican Republic, has worked in Ukrainian tax administration and auditing firms, and speaks four languages fluently. She stated that modeling is a professional job and that allegations of escorting or prostitution are baseless and ridiculous.
Addressing President Zelensky, Yakimova expressed her sincere apologies if the situation caused any discomfort. She stated that her aim was not to create a scandal but to raise Ukraine's voice, and called on those profiting from her photos to donate that money to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.