Contractor's car arrested in Kherson for stealing from a shelter

In Kherson, a court seized the property of the head of a contracting firm. He is suspected of misappropriating budget funds while working at a perinatal center.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

The case concerns the seizure of the car of the director of a construction company, whom the investigation believes to be involved in the misappropriation of more than UAH 5 million during the reconstruction of a shelter for the city perinatal center.

The criminal proceedings were opened in September 2024. According to the investigation, from October 2023 to January 2025, the suspect headed Budpostach-STSV LLC, which was engaged in the reconstruction of the shelter with the arrangement of a dual-purpose structure - a maternity unit with shelter functions in Kherson.

In August 2024, the perinatal center and the contractor signed a contract for the work. The total contract amount exceeded UAH 101 million, including VAT. The contract price was fixed, and the work was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

Investigators found that in November-December 2024, the company's director, taking advantage of his official position, entered false information in the acts of work performed. The documents contained overstated volumes and costs of work, as well as materials and work that were not actually performed.

The suspect signed these acts and certified them with the company's seal, after which he handed them over to the customer, the Kherson City Perinatal Center of the Second Level, a municipal non-profit enterprise. On the basis of these documents, the company was unjustifiably transferred more than UAH 5 million, which, according to law enforcement, the director disposed of at his own discretion.

As a result of such actions, the medical institution suffered material damage in the amount of UAH 5,018,514.

In January, the man was served a notice of suspicion on charges of misappropriation of property and forgery. The court imposed a bail of UAH 499,200 on him and ordered him to fulfill certain duties until March 8, 2026.

To ensure possible confiscation, the investigator filed a motion with the court to seize the property. The court partially granted it and seized the 2011 Toyota Sequoia, prohibiting any actions with the vehicle.

According to YouControl, Budpostach-STSV LLC was registered in Ivano-Frankivsk in 2015. In 2023, the company became one of the main contractors of the Kherson authorities. Its head is Oleksandr Novokhatskyi. The company has been participating in public procurement since 2016, applying for 65 tenders and receiving contracts worth more than UAH 405 million, mostly for the repair of shelters in Kherson.

In January 2025, the founder and director of Budpostach-STSV LLC was taken into custody by the Central Court of Mykolaiv. According to the investigation, he received a bribe of UAH 572,000 from the head of Voltenergotrans LLC for influencing officials of Khersonteploenergo. It was about facilitating the conclusion of a contract dated December 4, 2024, and unimpeded acceptance of the work performed. The official demanded 10% of the contract amount related to the repair of the Regional Hospital for Rehabilitation Treatment.

In addition, the court imposed preventive measures on two officials suspected of extortion. According to the investigation, the founder of Budpostach-STSV, Oleksandr Novokhatskyi, acted as an intermediary in the transfer of bribes for the conclusion of a contract with Khersonteploenergo.

Анна Бальчінос