A scandal erupts in Odesa over non-transparent reconstruction of elevators

In Odesa, the repair of elevators in high-rise buildings turned into a scandal. The issue was raised that the system actually works for political interests, and ordinary residents are left out of the queue.

In Odesa, a scandal erupted at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Housing and Communal Services over the non-transparent order of reconstruction of elevators in high-rise buildings. During the meeting, deputy Oleksiy Asaulenko said that the Housing and Communal Services Department independently determines which buildings to renovate without the commission's approval, which creates high corruption risks.

They discussed the elevator reconstruction program. When asked by a commission member why some buildings were being renovated in 2025, while others were postponed to the next year, representatives of the department replied that funding was allocated to specific addresses and there was no general priority algorithm.

There were more than 100 buildings on the list for this year. Approximately 75 objects have already been repaired, the rest are at the stage of preparing technical documentation and will be completed next year. In his commentary to Intent, Asaulenko noted that priority is given to houses lobbied by MPs.

A transparent co-financing model was proposed: residents raise 10% of the funds, and the city adds 90%. It should be fully operational next year. And the old model should disappear.

The absence of a clear algorithm - old buildings, dangerous elevators, the number of appeals - makes the system non-transparent, and the department decides what to repair without the approval of the commission.

Therefore, the commission called for the introduction of a transparent mechanism for allocating funding and a clear priority for repairs to avoid corruption risks and ensure equal conditions for all city residents.

Recently, Odesa city council decided to form and allocate several land plots for scientific institutions, government agencies, sanatoriums and special protection facilities. The deputies agreed to clarify the boundaries of the plots on the ground and to engage representatives of the institutions to check the documentation. Among the objects under consideration is the Port of Odesa, which received 1.22 hectares for the placement and operation of maritime transport buildings and facilities.

Анна Бальчінос