Leshchenko did not comment on photos from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat shared online

Serhiy Leshchenko, a member of the supervisory board of the state company Ukrzaliznytsia and former People's Deputy, left press inquiries regarding his alleged stay in the prestigious French resort of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat unanswered. This information and accompanying photos appeared on the internet in late July 2026, although their authenticity and the exact circumstances of the events have not yet been confirmed by independent sources.

Reaction to social media posts

In late last month, social media users began discussing photos which, according to their authors, show Serhiy Leshchenko on the French coast. In particular, blogger Rymma Filipenko published a post mentioning the official's alleged presence in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

The editorial team, which had been monitoring this information, sent a query directly to Leshchenko requesting comments on these events. However, no response was received. The absence of a comment is not proof of the rumours' veracity, nor does it allow for the establishment of specific details: the date of arrival, duration of stay, place of residence, or the amount spent on the holiday.

Features of the resort on the French Riviera

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is located on the eponymous cape of the French Riviera, approximately six kilometres east of Nice. It is a small municipality with a population of around 1,500 people, where a significant part of the territory is occupied by private residences.

The resort gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Historically, this place is associated with the names of such famous personalities as members of the Rothschild family, Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Edith Piaf, and Elton John. Among the key landmarks are the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild with its gardens and the five-star Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat.

Due to the high cost of real estate and the limited number of hotel rooms, this area is considered one of the most expensive for holidays in France. At the same time, a person's presence in this municipality does not necessarily indicate staying in a luxury facility or incurring huge expenses.

Context: financial indicators and salary

The discussion of Leshchenko's possible holiday takes place against the backdrop of previously published data on his financial situation. Previously, the politician publicly stated his monthly remuneration after tax for his work on the Ukrzaliznytsia supervisory board – 186,000 hryvnias.

The media also drew attention to the company's financial results during Leshchenko's tenure. In particular, Ukrzaliznytsia's losses of 18.6 billion hryvnias and Leshchenko's total remuneration during his time in office, estimated at over 13 million hryvnias, were mentioned. At the same time, the financial results of the state company depend on many factors, so the cited indicators themselves do not prove the personal responsibility of a specific supervisory board member for the losses.

Recall that previously StopKor reported on a billion-hryvnia Ukrzaliznytsia contract for the purchase of carriages from an enterprise that journalists linked to pro-Russian business, as well as published an investigation into foreign trips by Kyiv officials to popular resort destinations, including Barcelona, in 2023–2024.