A former nude model has apologized to Volodymyr Zelensky after she was dramatically sacked from a diplomatic role due to her scandalous past.
Victoria Yakimova, 37, was removed from her post as Ukraine’s honorary consul to the Dominican Republic after a backlash online and in political circles.
He was appointed just last month by Zelensky’s Foreign Minister Andrei Sibiha.
Yakimova has been living in the Caribbean country since 2014 and is married to a Dominican national.
By his own admission, diplomacy was never part of the plan.
Yakimova told The Sun: “It completely shocked me. If I’m completely honest, even three or four years ago I had no intention of getting anywhere near diplomacy.
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“I have been a public figure here for quite some time – people even call me ‘the most famous Ukrainian in the Dominican Republic’ – so I knew there would be attention.”
But she was surprised by the reaction she received to her career as a glamor model.
She said, “I was surprised at how quickly some people resorted to stereotypes. As if a woman working as a model couldn’t possibly be intelligent, educated and capable of playing a diplomatic role.”
The reaction focused on explicit images from her modeling career that resurfaced online.
Others pointed to a photo of him wearing a traditional Russian Kokoshnik headdress – a sensitive symbol amid the ongoing war.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry in Kyiv responded by conducting an “additional investigation” into his background.
His credentials were then revoked and officials have ordered a more in-depth investigation for future appointments.
Yakimova says that the controversy had escalated too much.
She said: “What this experience has shown me is that even the best intentions can lead you into some trouble. The last two weeks have felt like living in a hurricane – the constant calls, the explanations, the accusations – despite the fact that I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Despite the criticism, Yakimova has no regrets about her past.
“There’s nothing in my past that I’m ashamed of,” he said.
“I worked in the tax administration in Ukraine, I worked in an auditing firm, I have two master’s degrees – one in Ukraine and one here in the Dominican Republic – and I speak four languages.
“My modeling career? It’s a part of my life. The camera loves me – and I love the camera.”
“And everything I’ve done so far has been completely legal and professional.”
He said his past has not been an issue in the Dominican Republic.
“Here in the Dominican Republic, no one has a problem with it,” she said.
“In fact, quite the opposite.”
Addressing the Kokoshnik image, he said it was taken out of context.
She said: “The only thing I deleted – and I did that a long time ago – was a playful photo of me wearing a Russian kokoshnik.
“It was taken as a joke before the war among friends who know my views well. It was a joke.”
Apologizing to Zelensky, Yakimova said: “If, in any way, this situation or the surrounding media attention has caused President Zelensky any concern or discomfort, I will sincerely apologize.
“This was never my intention. I was not looking for a scandal. My sole purpose has always been to help and to use my voice to speak truthfully about what is happening in Ukraine.”
In a separate admission, Yakimova detailed how she met King Charles at an event in 2017.
“I never thought I’d find myself invited to an event of that caliber,” she said.
“He smiled, made a light joke about me being ‘good at technology’ and we all laughed. He knows how to make people feel comfortable.”
However, Yakimova rejected suggestions that the royal encounter now held any significance.
“I highly doubt he will even remember me,” she said.
Hitting back at critics, he questioned their understanding of his role.
She said: “Most of the people who discuss me publicly do not even understand the difference between a consul and an honorary consul.
“As far as some of the more absurd allegations – escorting, prostitution, or that I ‘showed my body to get a position’ – I can only smile.
“What people don’t see is that during this time I’ve also done a lot of meaningful work – helping people who were undocumented for years finally resolve their situations, raising awareness of Ukraine in the Dominican Republic, building real relationships.”
In a final blow, he suggested turning the controversy into something positive.
“Any advertising revenue generated from the use of my images – please consider donating it in support of the armed forces ukraine,” He said.
