Fundraising parents accumulated 1.35 million dollars for a journey to Georgia.
In a shocking turn of events, the trainer of a children's dance troupe based at School No.20 in Cherkasy, Ukraine, has confessed to losing the collected funds for the troupe's trip to an international festival in Georgia. The troupe had won the grand prize at a competition in February, earning them the right to represent Ukraine at the event.
The trainer initially promised to organise the trip, but it seems that the funds have gone astray. The lost funds have left the dance troupe without the means to attend the festival, scheduled for July 20-27.
Parents of the dance troupe members were taken aback by the confession, expressing outrage, calls for justice, and condolences on social media. A woman who took over the club in the fall of last year and became the leader was subsequently fired from School No.20 on May 30, 2025.
The school is ready to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation, and a criminal case has been opened for embezzlement and abuse of trust. The investigation includes examination of financial transactions, interrogation of witnesses, and establishment of the exact circumstances of the incident.
It is important to note that the Deputy Mayor of Cherkasy, Anastasia Chubina, denies any involvement of School No.20 in the trip. As of July 30, 2025, there are no available search results or credible reports specifically addressing the "Cherkasy dance troupe scandal," its current investigation status, or potential penalties for any suspect.
The school hopes that the culprit will be held accountable and affected families will receive compensation. The trainer, who has admitted to losing the funds due to gambling, has informed parents that the competition had been postponed from July 10-17 to July 20-27.
An official statement regarding the situation has been posted on the school's Facebook page. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
- One parent inquired, "- What about the refund or an alternative solution, considering the general news of the lost funds and the general education-and-self-development opportunity for the dance troupe?"
- In the midst of the ongoing crime-and-justice investigation, the local general-news outlets have started reporting on the public outcry for justice and the urgent need for accountability in the Cherkasy dance troupe embezzlement case.
